Mrs. Esca Martha Myers Holtzclaw, of Chattanooga, died on June 23, 2012 from natural causes. She would have celebrated her 102 birthday on July 28.
Esca was born in Bishopville, S.C., in 1910 and moved to Tennessee in 1942 to attend King College School of Business, subsequently beginning a 33-year career as executive assistant to the editors of The Chattanooga Times including Messrs Alfred Mynders, Martin Ochs, and Norman Bradley. She actively participated in The Times’ Curling Iron Club, an annual event staged by the Women of The Times.
A lifelong Presbyterian, Esca was a member of Chattanooga’s First Cumberland Presbyterian Church attending the J. Fred Johnson Bible Class, serving many years as its corresponding secretary. She was a member of The Women’s Ministry, Cumberland Presbyterian Women, and The Sunshine Club.
Esca loved music, poetry, bird watching, and traveled extensively.
She was preceded in death by parents Lawrence and Ruth Myers, first husband, Kendall Arledge, second husband, James E. Holtzclaw, brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Ethel Myers, sisters, Sara Daniels and Estelle Chewning, and nephew, Karl Hall.
She is survived by daughter, Karen Ann Holtzclaw Thomasson and husband Tom, of Dallas, nieces, Karla Dunning of Orlando and Arline Copeland of Bishopville, and nephew, Phillip Chewning of Myrtle Beach.
Esca has long been surrounded and supported by dear friends, delightful neighbors and dedicated caregivers who abundantly loved and cared for her.
Visitation will be on Thursday, June 28, from 4–7 p.m. at Chattanooga-East Funeral Home, 404 South Moore Road.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 29, at 11:30 a.m. with Dr. Gary Carver and Seniors Minister/Organist Bruce Clark officiating, at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1505 North Moore Road. Interment is immediately after at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com.