Walter Richard Holt

Smithfield, NC: Mr. Walter Richard Holt, age 88, of Lake Park Circle passed away on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield.  Funeral Services will be at 2:00 PM Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Four Oaks in Four Oaks, NC. The Rev. John Norman will officiate. Burial will follow in Bethel Original Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery in Four Oaks.

Mr. Holt was born on January 24, 1935 in Johnston County, NC to the late David Milton and Anna Mildred Powell Holt. He graduated from Wilson’s Mills High School in 1953. He married the love of his life, Rebecca Ann Lee, in 1956 and served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1963. Mr. Holt retired after 37 years with National Cash Register and spent the next several years building and remodeling homes through his business, Holt Builders, Inc.

His passions included his family, First Baptist Church of Four Oaks, mission work and the Town of Four Oaks. He was elected to the Four Oaks Town Council in 1993 where he served until 2017. Mr. Holt served as mayor pro tem from 2003 until 2017, during which he oversaw the town’s finances. He spearheaded the revitalization of Barbour Park and led the building of the park’s gazebo. He was also instrumental in the recruitment and construction of the Four Oaks Industrial Park.

Mr. Holt was heavily involved in mission work through the Baptists on Mission Disaster Relief Ministry. He coordinated 10 mission trips to Honduras starting in 1999 after the devastation of Hurricane Mitch and made multiple mission trips throughout the southeastern United States after natural disasters. He drove to south Florida and Texas into his 80s on behalf of the NC Baptist Men.

He was very active in the ministry of First Baptist Church of Four Oaks and was the chairman of the board of deacons until his death. He loved attending the monthly Baptist Men’s breakfast.

Mr. Holt was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2018, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a North Carolina citizen by the Governor.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Rebecca Lee Holt; daughters, Nancy Holt Hughes and husband, Larry of Pinehurst, Katherine Holt Gallagher and husband, Mike of Cary, Janet Holt Burton and husband, Bob of Southern Pines; grandchildren, Josh Thomas, Courtney Turner and husband, Brandon, Lauren Gallagher, Ryan Gallagher and wife, Kerri, Jordan Conoly, Kaitlin Conoly; great-grandchildren, Bailee Thomas, Caroline Turner, Samuel Turner, Noah Turner, Grace Turner; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, David Milton Holt, Jr., Doris Lucille Holt Wallace, Nellie Jean Holt Woodruff, Robert Louis Holt, Linda Lorene Holt Wiggins, Glen Edward Holt, and Rexford Dean Holt.

The family will receive friends and family on Monday, September 25, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Rose and Graham Funeral Home in Four Oaks.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Four Oaks. P.O. Box 717, Four Oaks, NC 27524 or SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, P.O. Box 1376, Smithfield, NC 27577.

The family is grateful for your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements by Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Four Oaks, NC.