Dena Willingham

Dena Willingham, daughter of Elijah Willingham and Nancy Kay, was born in South Carolina—likely in Anderson County—on November 16, 1873. She was the fourth of nine children: Lewis “Preston,” Francis Jeanette “Nettie,” Andrew Jackson, Dena, William Franklin “Frank,” Charles W. “Charlie,” Bertha “Bertie” Virginia, Nora E., and Elijah “Eugene” Tillman Willingham. Dena married into my Holland line as the wife of my 1st cousin 3x removed, Anda Holland; she and I share no common ancestor.

Her father, Elijah Willingham, was a Civil War veteran who served at age 16 during the final six months of the conflict. Her youngest brother’s given name was Elijah, though he later went by Eugene.

On June 9, 1880, the Willingham family lived in the Broadway Township of Anderson County. Dena’s name was recorded as “Denah” in the census. Her father farmed the land with help from her brother Lewis, while her mother Nancy kept the household. Lewis was noted as “sick.”

Dena married Anda “Andy” Holland, son of Elijah Major Holland and Jemima Kay, about 1897, likely in Anderson County. They had five children: Ina Mae, James “Jamie” Andrew, Justus A. “Pete,” Joseph “Joe” Erwin, and Bertha “Bertie” Holland.

By June 9, 1900, Dena, Andy, and their daughter Ina were living on a rented farm in Broadway Township. The census notes that they had been married three years and had one child. Andy worked as a farmer, and both he and Dena were able to read and write. Dena’s parents lived next door with four of her siblings, and her brother Preston lived beside them with his own family.

Dena and Andy spent a short period in Greenville, South Carolina, where their son Joseph was born in 1907. The Greenville City Directory lists them as Andrew and Dena Holland. Andy worked as a clerk for Busbee & Wood, a livery stable that boarded, rented, and serviced horses and horse‑drawn vehicles. They rented a home at 515 St. John Street.

Dena’s sister Nettie died at age 40 on March 8, 1908, in Anderson County. Nettie’s infant son Frances, born March 5, 1908, died on June 8, 1908. Both were buried at Pelzer Community Cemetery, likely victims of the same illness.

By April 23, 1910, Dena and Andy had returned to Anderson County and were renting a farm in Williamston. Andy was again working as a farmer. In July 1910, Dena purchased five shams, one set of silver knives, one mattress, four quilts, and five counterpanes from the estate of Jacob Alewine—household goods typical of estate sales in that era.

On September 10, 1913, Dena died in Williamston at the age of 39, just three months after the birth of her youngest child, Bertie. Her oldest child, Ina, was 15. Dena was buried in Williamston Cemetery after a service conducted by Rev. Thayer. The community mourned her as a devoted wife, loving mother, and noble woman whose kindness touched many lives.

Andy married his second wife, Victoria Martin, on August 30, 1914, in Pelzer, Anderson County. In 1920, Andy, Victoria, and the children—James (19), Justus (16), Joe (13), and Bertie (6)—were living together in Williamston. On October 6, 1921, just eight years after Dena’s death, Andy died in Williamston, leaving their five children orphaned. Ina, married in 1916, was living in Williamston with her husband Joe Ellison, their children Albert and Dena Mae, and her widowed mother‑in‑law Georgia Ann Ellison in 1920. After Andy’s death, it is unclear whether the younger children remained with Victoria or moved in with Ina. By 1930, none of the Holland children lived with Victoria; Bertie was living with Ina and her family in Williamston.

References

• “Pete” Holland, The Greenville News, Greenville, South Carolina, October 27, 1986.
• Anderson County, South Carolina, Probate Estate Case Files 1909–1911, images 747–751, FamilySearch.
• Confederate Veteran Answers Final Call, The Greenville News, Greenville, South Carolina, December 14, 1924.
• Dena Holland, Greenville, South Carolina, City Directory, 1907.
• E. T. Willingham, The Greenville News, Greenville, South Carolina, August 21, 1964.
• Eligah Willingham, Certificate of Death no. 21614, State of South Carolina, Bureau of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health.
• Elijah Willingham, Veteran Dies at Belton, The Greenville News, Greenville, South Carolina, February 1, 1960.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115407791/frances_jeanette-snipes: accessed 21 Sep 2026), memorial page for Frances Jeanette “Nettie” Willingham Snipes (1 Mar 1868–8 Mar 1908), Find a Grave Memorial ID 115407791, citing Pelzer Community Cemetery, Pelzer, Anderson County, South Carolina, USA; maintained by Gerald (contributor 46623097).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115407733/frances-snipes: accessed 21 Sep 2026), memorial page for Frances Snipes (5 Mar 1908–8 Jun 1908), Find a Grave Memorial ID 115407733, citing Pelzer Community Cemetery, Pelzer, Anderson County, South Carolina, USA; maintained by Gerald (contributor 46623097).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93629697/charles_w-willingham: accessed 22 Sep 2026), memorial page for Charles W. Willingham (13 Nov 1879–13 Dec 1915), Find a Grave Memorial ID 93629697, citing Belton Cemetery, Belton, Anderson County, South Carolina, USA; maintained by John Burgess (contributor 47495171).
• Ina Mae Kay, Certificate of Death no. 73 011872, State of South Carolina, Board of Health, 1973.
• Joseph Erwin Holland, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Mrs. A. J. Willingham Reported Dead in Pickens, The State, Columbia, South Carolina, August 26, 1925.
• Pelzer News, The Greenville News, Greenville, South Carolina, September 21, 1913.
• Personal visit to Williamston Cemetery.
• U.S. Federal Census, Broadway, Anderson County, South Carolina, 1870, 1880, 1900.
• U.S. Federal Census, Limestone, Cherokee County, South Carolina, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Williamston, Anderson County, South Carolina, 1910, 1920, 1930.
• W. F. Willingham, The State, Columbia, South Carolina, December 14, 1924.