Maurice Bowen Holland, Sr. was born on September 11th, 1944 in Pinehurst, North Carolina to the late Willa Mae Holland and the late Leitch Hunter Brice. He departed this life on May 26th, 2022 at his home after a short illness. Maurice was raised in Aberdeen, North Carolina and attended Berkley School from grades 1-12. Upon his graduation he attended Shaw University on a baseball scholarship. He married the late Mary Evelyn McGregor, his childhood classmate, on February 17th, 1963. Of this union four children were born. Maurice lost his beloved wife of 24 years in January of 1988.

Maurice was a jack of all trades. He worked as a cook in several restaurants and resorts for many years. He briefly served in the US Army. He then attended Sandhills Community College to obtain an electronics/tv repair certificate to open his own repair shop. He also worked as a nurse's aide, eventually earning his LPN degree in nursing from Central Carolina Community College. He worked as an LPN in the Pinehurst area for many years until his retirement. He was a longtime member at Saint John's Missionary Baptist Church where he served as deacon.

Maurice Holland, Sr. was active in the East Aberdeen Precinct until his health failed. He served as a State Executive Committee member for Moore County and was a Delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte to renominate President Obama and Vice President Biden. He served as the 1st Board Chair of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice for 10 years with then Executive Director and now Associate Justice of the NC Supreme Court, Anita Earls. A native of Moore County he was able to finally vote in municipal election beginning at age 65 through his activism and hard work with the UNC Center for Civil Rights Managing Attorney, Mark Dorosin, NC House Representative, Jamie Boles and the late NC State Senator, Harris Blake to have the Midway Community annexed into the Town of Aberdeen and be provided services such as water, sewer and garbage collection.

He leaves to mourn his passing four children: Maurice Bowen Holland, Jr. of Aberdeen, NC, Cheryl Nadine Holland of Aberdeen, NC, Vincent Edward Holland of Concord, NC and Mark Anthony Holland (Dawn) of Chapel Hill, NC, eleven grandsons, ten great grandchildren and a host of extended family and friends.

Funeral Services: Saturday, June 4, 2022, 2:00pm at John Hall Presbyterian Church, 520 Dowd Road, Carthage, NC 28327

Viewing 1 hour prior to service at the church