Sharon Suzanne Kelley Holland

Our loving, amazingly strong and artistically gifted mother, daughter, sister and friend accepted the hand of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.  “Suzie” affectionately called by her mother, was born & raised in South Bend, Indiana and the eldest daughter of Judith Ann James & the late John Henry Kelley Jr. Sharon was a longtime resident of Atlanta, Georgia and of Los Angeles, California. 

Sharon is survived by her mother Judith Ann James; two children, her daughter Leigh Holland, South Bend IN; her son, Thomas (Joaquina) Holland, Los Angeles, CA; three grandchildren whom she adored, Christopher Holland, Sydney Holland, & Amaya Holland; two half-brothers, John H. Kelley III, Clarksville, TN; Scott Kelley, Mishawaka, IN; two sisters, Beth Ann James Anderson, Los Angeles, CA and Julie Ann James Benton, Atlanta, GA; nieces & nephews, Brittany Anderson, Los Angeles, CA; Judith Lo’ren Benton, Atlanta, GA; Brandon Anderson, Los Angeles, CA and Darrell Landon Benton, Atlanta, GA and Great Nieces London “peanut” Benton and Shannon Giddens along with a host of nephews, nieces, many cousins and close family friends. One brother, Kyle Ronald James, preceded Sharon in death.

After graduating from John Adams High School, Sharon completed one year at Howard University in Washington DC.  During her short time there become so enthralled with the Civil Rights Movement that she changed her name to Makini Janaki and demanded that all who knew her well, including her mother, should call her by the new name, Makini.  These earlier experiences led Sharon to discover a love for the Law & Justice and she worked for many years as a Paralegal.  Some of her career highlights was her pivotal role in The Wayne Williams Trial of the Atlanta Child Murders along with managing the business affairs of an NBA Basketball Player.   Sharon was praised for her ability to articulate a firm understanding of the law that she later pursued a certification as a Mediator through The Justice Center of Atlanta, Inc. Sharon was proudly assigned as a Mediator for the Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).   These kinds of daring and courageous acts are what made “Mom” so special and unique.  Sharon always challenged the “status quo” and if she were unsuccessful with the results, she would find creative ways to express herself through Art.  Sharon was a gifted seamstress and designer of everything imaginable.

As a single mother of two children, living day to day was not easy and we struggled; in spite of it all, mom still managed to give us a good life filled with her teaching us the values of independence, seeking opportunities and don’t take “No Shit” from anyone…she didn’t give a damn who it is! In other words, never accept less than you are worth and her children were worth a lot. Mom lived for us and many times through us- we had no choice but to succeed.

Sharon Suzanne  (Kelley) “Makini” Holland, we are truly honored and so very proud to have you as our mother. Its okay, you can rest now…job well done.

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