Deacon Roosevelt Holden Jr.

Roosevelt Edward Holden Jr. was born on January 22nd, 1951 Monday evening in New Orleans Louisiana, to Mildred Mae and the late Roosevelt Edward Holden Sr.

He was a chubby, happy baby, always smiling. Ross as he liked to be called traveled to Cleveland Ohio by train as an infant in his mother’s arms with his five-year-old sister Mildred at their side, to join his father who had become employed there.

Ross went to church and loved music from an early age. Sometime during high school Ross began to play the drums by ear, he loved playing so much he saved his paper route money and Mom added the rest and they purchased a beautiful sparkly gold five-piece drum set and he took lessons at the music shop. His great, great Grandfather played the string centre bass professionally and his Grandmother played the piano. New Orleans roots came to him naturally. He practiced always, took up playing the guitar and also began a group out of the house. The guys were great and even cut a demo. He also enjoyed riding his motorcycle. He always got caught by our neighbor Mrs. Roper riding fast down the street. Ross also loved horses and was given a horse by his stepfather he named him Paint, he loved to ride him too. While in high school Ross was always industrious, working a paper route, the first African American to hold the route, he had several jobs and he was a great salesman.

Ross attended John F Kennedy High School in Cleveland Ohio and graduated in 1969. He made a choice at that time to go into the United States Air Force as they were drafting at that time for the Army and he did not want to wait until they called him. So off he went. Bold, brave choices for a young man and what a great time! He traveled to many countries and stayed in Wiesbaden Germany for several years. He worked in the hospitals there. He returned to the states still in the military and was stationed in Cheyanne Wyoming, from there he traveled to Lowry Air Force base in Denver and fell in love with the beautiful red rock mountains and gorgeous scenery. This was going to be his home. Osram Sylvania hired Ross as a lighting technician, and after years of more travel to illuminate the countryside he was promoted to Supervisor.

Ross met the love of his life in 1993 Joan Glasper and they were wed on August 28th, 1997 by Pastor Harold J. Hicks at Mt. Carmel Community Baptist Church. You see it takes time to make the right connection, he gained a ready-made fun, loving, family and they gained a truly devoted man. Ross was baptized in the same church by Pastor Jimmy McGee on November 14th, 2004 he loved his Church home and was ordained to the office of Deacon on April 22nd, 2018.

Despite his illness he tried to live life to the fullest. The children kept him young. He is walking around Heaven asking everybody “Whaz up?”. His favorite pass time when he wasn’t on Joan’s nerves was playing his guitar and singing. He was in a band called Serious Bizzness, and could not be pried away. Music and playing his guitar were all he ever wanted to do in his spare time. Which after retirement was all of the time.

Ross is survived by his wife Joan Glasper Holden, 4 sons Roosevelt Jordan Crisp, Robert Owens, Gregory Owens, and Anthony Gerome Owens. His mother Mildred Patterson (Cleveland, Ohio) sister Ruth Farrington (NY, NY) 13 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren (all girls) and a host of Uncles, Aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, extended family and a bevy of friends. He was preceded in death by his sister Mildred Wilson, and his father Roosevelt E. Holden Sr.

He lived a life no one else got to live and that’s what makes life so unique, special and precious.

Humbly submitted by the family.