On September 1, 2018, Matthew Ethan Holdiness passed away in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, at the age of 31 after a lengthy illness. He was born on October 3, 1986 in Monroe, LA. After a twenty-year separation, Matthew reunited with his mother Judith in heaven. Luke’s gospel declares, “your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body is full of light.” Matthew’s blue eyes remained full of light, even when the dark world tried with all of its might to dim his precious light. Even after enduring tragedy and illness, Matthew was a light to all who encountered him.
Matthew is survived by seventeen siblings and a multitude of nieces and nephews, all of whom loved him dearly. Matthew’s surviving siblings are Mercy Holdiness, Grace Ossman, Faith Holloway, Holly Clanton, Hope Waits, David Lard, Marjorie Lard, Michael Lard, Deanna Conn, Mary Tucker, Joseph Lard, Kenneth Holdiness, Judy Clark, Paul Holdiness, Karen Durham, Donna LaForge, and Jeff Holdiness. His mother Judith A. Holdiness and father Henry Holdiness of West Monroe, LA preceded him in death.
Eternal gratitude of Matthew’s family goes to his friend Nate Bonifant who was with him at the end of his race. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to pkdcure.org or your local homeless shelter.
Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield pondered, “whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life.” To everyone who loved Matthew, he was the hero of his own life.
“And I will show that whatever happens to anybody it may be turn’d to beautiful results.”
Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
A graveside service will take place at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetary in Monroe, LA, at a later date.
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