Blanche Vastine Holliday

BLANCHE VASTINE HOLLIDAY Blanche Vastine Caldwell Holliday, 77, was the first born of nine children to the late Crawford and Elizabeth Caldwell on June 10, 1946, in Baltimore, Maryland. Following a lengthy illness, she quietly departed this life and went home to be with the Lord at two forty-two a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Baltimore Washington Medical Center. Vastine moved to the Eastern Shore in 1951. She was raised by her grandparents, Rev. Robert and Blanche Caldwell. Most of her adolescent years were spent in Queen Anne’s County. She attended South County Elementary School in Grasonville, MD and Kennard High School in Centreville, MD until the 10th grade. Once her grandparents retired and moved back to their home in Claiborne, Maryland in 1962, she completed her high school education in the class of 1964 at Robert Russa Moton High in Easton, Maryland. Vastine briefly attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD and later completed several classes at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, MD. While living in Baltimore, she worked for The Social Security Administration Headquarters in Woodlawn. Vastine returned to Claiborne to care for her grandparents when they became ill. She worked for The Grayblock Ribbon Company, The Star Democrat, and the local region of the U.S. Census Bureau. An interesting fact is that Vastine was one of only four women who were responsible for typing every article that went in the Star Democrat, Caroline County Record, and the Tidewater Times booklet. She concluded her career at the Memorial Hospital in Easton, retiring after 30 years of service. Eighteen of those years were spent as supervisor of the registration department. On September 5,1970, she married Lawrence (Doc) Holliday, Jr. who preceded her in death on August 19, 2017. She was the proud mother of four children: Elizabeth Dickinson, Randolph Holliday, Laura Stanford, and Lisa Conti. She always enjoyed being involved in church and community activities. While her children were younger, Vastine was very involved with their schools. She served as president of the PTA and was made a lifetime member of the Maryland Congress of PTAs. She was a library volunteer, a reading program aide, and an active member of band boosters and sports boosters. She was a member of Union United Methodist Church, St. Michaels, Maryland and has held various offices such as Church School Superintendent, Finance Chairperson, and Annual Conference Delegate for several years. Prior to her illness, she was Chairperson of the Senior Ministry group, Secretary for the United Methodist Women, and a Trustee. Vastine was also a member of the Christmas in St. Michael’s committee. She served as a member of their Board of Directors and a volunteer docent for the St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary’s Square. As a member of their Board of Directors, she served as secretary. While serving on the St. Michaels Community Center Board of Directors, she volunteered in the Treasure Cove Thrift Shop every Monday. She was actively involved in the Robert Russa Moton High School Alumni Association as Secretary and was a Life member of the Talbot County Branch NAACP. When asked, ‘what’s your favorite thing to do since retirement?’ she smiled and replied, “Being able to do absolutely nothing whenever I choose.” In addition to her husband, she was predeceased in death by her parents Crawford and Elizabeth Caldwell, her grandparents, Rev. Robert and Blanche Caldwell, one sister, Rosalind Thomas, and five brothers; Albert Roberts, James Roberts, Leonard Caldwell, Crawford Caldwell, Jr. and Donald Caldwell, and two brother in laws; Morris Brown, and Larry Young, Sr. Vastine leaves to cherish her memory her children Elizabeth Dickinson (Kevin) of Midlothian, TX, Randolph Holliday (Deidra) of Middletown, DE, Laura Stanford (Thomas) of Easton, MD, and Lisa Conti (Ralph) of Wilmington, DE; seven grandchildren: Carl(Michele) and Jesse Green, Jeremiah, Zoe, and Reed Holliday, and Rachael and Leah Conti; five step-grandchildren: Taiesha Jones(Karim), Thomas “Ronnie”, Mariah and Morgan Stanford, and Devin Hayes; three great grandchildren: Jayla Green, Jaxon Green, and Julianna Holliday; four great step-grandchildren: Camilla Redden, Noelle Molock, Milan Babes, and Se’nyah Richardson; five sisters: Patsy Brown of Baltimore, MD, Joyce Young of Charlotte, NC, Irma Miller (Charles “Ravic”) of Baltimore, MD, Jean Caldwell of Peoria, IL, and Cynthia Sanders of Baltimore, MD; one brother: Charles George (Christine) of Pensacola, FL; four sisters in law: Patrice Caldwell of Norfolk, VA, Alice Ruth Holliday of Easton, MD, Dorothy Palmer (Robert) of St. Michaels, MD, and Gladys Giddens of Easton, MD, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Lovingly Submitted The Family

Blanche Vastine Holliday

June 10, 1946 - January 2, 2024