Holly Susan Campbell

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”—Matthew 25

Like ripples in still water or rays of light at sunset, Holly’s life radiated acts of giving, helping, meeting needs, and caring about people from all walks of life. Her energy and selflessness impacted the countless lives that she encountered over her lifetime.

Holly passed away on Sunday, November 17, 2024 from a stroke. She was healthy and active when it happened on the 15th. Her loved ones are very grateful that she left her body peacefully. With deep heartbreak, we all know she fulfilled her life purpose to serve.

Holly was the first child born to Raymond and Elaine Johnson in Chicago, Illinois. After welcoming a second child, Paula, the family moved to suburban Wheaton where Holly graduated from Wheaton North High School in 1967. She had many friends at school and worked on the school yearbook. Holly excelled academically and went on to graduate from Northern Illinois University, with a major in political science. She was also a member of Kappa Delta sorority.

Shortly after graduation, Holly started working as an administrator and manager for various home healthcare agencies. This work sparked her interest in helping elderly people and those in need. She eventually moved to Atlanta, married, and gave birth to her beloved son, Dane. Holly continued to work in the healthcare field while caring for her household in Atlanta’s Buckhead Duck Pond community.

In 1995, Holly re-married to Gary Campbell. She retired from the healthcare field to devote more of her time to volunteer work in services such as tutoring with the Reading Buddies program at Dobbs Elementary School. It was her involvement in refugee assistance work that opened the door to her passion for helping families adjust to life in America. Through Six Star Refugee Resettlement and other organizations, she helped to provide practical guidance so that newcomers could thrive. Holly developed close relationships with families from many countries over almost 30 years of service.

She dearly loved her own extended family, a blended arrangement of caring and respect, including stepdaughter Lynn and stepson, Chad. She was devoted to her only granddaughter, Wren, who lives in Los Angeles. Holly enjoyed keeping up with her friends from childhood, onward. She was a longtime member of P.E.O., attended many reunions of her KD sorority sisters, and was involved in a local women’s book club. Holly made friends wherever she went.

Holly loved the outdoors and treasured her times at a family summer home in Maine for over 45 years. She would often sleep on the screened porch of the little house on the lake so that she could hear the loons calling at night, while looking at the brilliant stars. She loved experiencing new places, planning adventures, and traveling internationally with her friends. Holly and Gary also spent many happy years as part of the Highlands, NC community.

Holly had been standing on her lawn looking at the orange super moon that Friday night. This vision was her last joy before she lost consciousness and slipped away from us, on to her next journey to endless light.

The following is information for Holly’s memorial service:

January 4, 2025, 2:00pm

Morningside Presbyterian Church

1411 N. Morningside Dr. NE

Atlanta, GA 30306

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Holly Campbell Refugee Fund (through Morningside Presbyterian Church)

www.morningsidepc.org

Choose the Give tab and select the fund from the dropdown menu.

P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund 

https://peo-portal.com/donations?step=0

At Step 2, enter Chapter Z/GA.

Or, to mail a check for P.E.O. donation:

https://www.peointernational.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IndividualDonationForm_20241016_FINAL.pdf