Danville man marks 100 years among family, friends

Irvin Holley stood erect and greeted a steady stream of friends and relatives at his crowded birthday party Sunday at the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History.
At other times he sat and socialized.
But this wasn’t just another birthday celebration — it was a centennial. Holley turns 100 today and his family threw a party to mark the milestone.
“It’s been a wonderful blessing,” Holley said of his long life during a brief interview amid the two-hour festivities.
Holley’s daughters and other relatives described a man who was dedicated to his church, loved gardening, held a diverse line of jobs, was a strict enforcer of table manners and curfews, was an inspiring grandfather, ate healthily, hardly smoked and never drank.
Though hard of hearing, the recently retired jack-of-all-trades lives independently and still drives a car, said Gladys Elliott, 72, one of Holley’s three daughters. He renewed his license a year ago and cracked a joke about his advanced age, she said.
“He said, ‘Just think, I’ll have to renew this again in five years,’” Elliott said.   
Holley spoke for a few minutes with the Register & Bee, but it wasn’t long before another of his daughters, Nancy King, 61, signaled that he was anxious to return to talking with friends and family. But before he resumed his place as man of the hour, if not the century, he said he was born in Chatham and moved with his family to Danville as a child. He worked a variety of jobs — a truck driver for Holsum Bakery for seven years, and he delivered food to employees at Dan River Mills for 14.
“He had a lot of different occupations,” King said. Holley followed the money, she added.
He also owned and operated a country store next to his house on Orphanage Road off Route 41 for about eight years in the 1950s, where he sold gas, canned goods, cigarettes and other items, another of his three daughters, Shelby Shelton, 66, said. 
He mowed the grass at his regular place of worship, Primitive Baptist Church, and kept the place clean for 50 years.
“He just retired from that,” King said.
Elliott said Holley loved working in his garden, where he grew tomatoes, string beans, squash, butter beans and corn. The family would eat dinner about 4:30 p.m. and go work in the garden afterward. They shared the homegrown batch with neighbors.
Regarding table manners and dating for his daughters, Holley could be strict, Elliott said. She remembers Holley smacking her for laughing during a meal when she was a young girl. It was the only time he raised a hand at her, she recalled. And when it came to going out with guys, Elliott said she had to be home before dark.
Elliott’s husband and Holley’s son-in-law, E.C. Elliott, recounted the courtship rules with humor.
“He wanted her back in by 9,” he said. “After we were engaged, we were allowed to stay out until 9:30.”
Holley never drank but he smoked for a short time while a young man, Elliott said. She attributes his longevity to good eating habits and his avoidance of unhealthy practices.
“He lived a good, clean life,” Elliott said. “I think that helps.” 
When it came to hobbies, Holley also had a knack for woodworking, King said. He built a log cabin behind his house in the early 1970s. Barry Shelton, 39 and Holley’s grandson, remembers becoming inspired after watching him build a doghouse with a porch.
“I would go home and try to do the same thing he had done,” Shelton, who lives in Durham, N.C., said.
Elliott said Holley taught her honesty and to treat people with respect.
“He was an excellent dad,” Elliott said.
Holley has three daughters, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild. He is the widow of Annie Holley, who died last year at 90. They were married for 73 years.
Contact John R. Crane at or (434) 791-7987.