Edsel Price
Holden


February 23, 1932 - December 29, 2019

Edsel Price Holden, 87, of Florence passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2019.  The memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2020. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. in the McDowell Hall with memorial service at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Florence, Sanctuary. He was the husband to Inez Austin Holden.

He was born in Athens, Alabama on February 23, 1932 to Betty M. and Percy P. Holden.  Immediately after birth, the family moved to Decatur, Alabama. When He was in the 10th grade, his family moved to Florence, Alabama and he graduated Coffee High School in May, 1950.

He began his college studies at Florence State Teacher College, and after a two-year stint in the U.S. Army, graduated in 1957 with a B.S. degree in Marketing and Retailing with a minor in Economics.

He spent six months working odd jobs and playing in bands, working the night shift at Reynolds, serving as lifeguard and swimming instructor and doing other small jobs until he was hired by National Floor Products Company, Inc. in early 1958. He was hired as the Office Manager, but because the company was new, it incorporated everything from customer service to filling orders and handling accounting. He had no idea that taking this job would lead to a very rewarding forty year career!

He became an Officer of NAFCO in the mid 1960’s, about the time the company had grown so large that we moved into Florence’s Industrial Park.  He was named Secretary-Treasurer of the company shortly afterward, and then Chief Financial Officer.  As the company continued to grow, He became Vice-President of Administration and then V.P. of Marketing.  NAFCO was sold to Domco, of Montreal Canada in 1994, and he retired two years later.

At the same time he started his work life, he married his high school sweetheart, Inez Austin, and as his career got its start, so did his family. His children are: Edsel P. Holden, Anthony Austin Holden, and Laura Michelle Holden.  He has six fantastic grandchildren.  He was very proud of all of them.

His career at NAFCO gave me many chances to become involved in the community. He have served on the Board of the YMCA (past chairman), the Florence Industrial Development Board (past chairman), as a member of the Downtown Lions Club, on the board of the Zodiac Theatre (past chairman), Junior Achievement Board of Directors, Salvation Army Board of Directors (past chairman), the UNA Alumni Association (past chairman), and on the District Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  He was one of the founders of the W.C. Handy Music Festival, and served 16 wonderful years as the music director. He produced eight “Evening with Edsel” concerts for the Handy Festival.  From 2009-2019, He did benefit concerts for the Shoals Theatre, Shoals Scholar Dollars Program, and the Florence Academy of Fine Arts and then chose the UNA Band as his charity of choice.

Music and theatre have always been a big part of his life. In high school and college, He played with bands for various functions throughout north Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee; in the early 1960’s He worked as a studio musician after hours, playing the trumpet. He has performed in community theatre in the area as a musician, a dramatic actor, and also as a singer, and have been a member of the Shoals Big Band since its inception.

He has always loved music and music has always been a big part of his life.  He started singing at the Princess Theatre in Decatur, Alabama when he was 12 years old. He sang every Saturday morning on a talent show for the next couple of years. His family moved to Florence in 1948. He immediately gravitated to people with similar music tastes. Even as a 10th grader, He was recruited to sing with the Florence State Teachers College Starlighters.  The Starlighters was a newly formed dance band that played pop music.  In the late 50’s and early 60’s, we had the Eddie Holden Orchestra. (Eddie was easier to pronounce than Edsel.) This hard working band played various functions throughout North Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and was the band of choice for many years.

In the late 60’s, He became fascinated with the stage and theatre.  Participating in the theatre productions first as a trumpet player in the pit orchestra and eventually in an acting role in drama or musical productions.  His- favorite shows were “The music man” and Tribute.”

He was an original Board member of the W.C. Handy Festival and served 16 years as the director. He produced a series of concerts at the Ritz Theatre called “An Evening with Edsel” from 1990-2008. In 2009 He started a series of concerts for the Shoals Theatre called “Edsel Holden Presents”.  In 2016 our focus changed to Shoals Scholar Dollars (SSD) and the Florence Academy of Fine Arts (FAFA). In 2016, Edsel was honored with a Bronze Star at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He also earned a Lifetime Achievement award from UNA and the Renaissance man of the year from North Alabama Magazine.

Survivors include his wife, Inez, daughter, Laura Irvine, sons, Edsel Price Holden (Trudy), Anthony Austin Holden (Barbara), sisters, Cherie Gregory, Marie Whitney. Grandchildren; Edsel Holden III, (Elise), Aubrey Holden, Kylie Holden, Austin Holden, Elizabeth Invine, and Oliver Irvine.

Honorary Pallbearers: Lloyd Jones and The Big Band, The UNA Band, All musician’s that have played with dad, his concert contributers, The Good Ole Boys,

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at ECM and North Alabama Medical Center, especially Dr. Lyman Mitchell, Dr Charles Wilson, Dr. Felix Morris, Dr Therese Lango, Dr. Edsel Holden II and his special angels Charlotte, Britany & Andrea,

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the UNA Band, or the Music Preservation Society or the charity of your choice. Please keep the music playing.



Visitation- Thursday

January 2, 2020
11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Visitation- Thursday

First United Methodist Church Florence, Al

January 2, 2020 11:00 am

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Memorial Service- Thursday

January 2, 2020
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

20 Comments on “Edsel Price Holden”

  1. Emily and I are so very sorry for your loss. Edsel will be greatly missed in the Shoals community.

  2. We are so sorry for your loss and have your family in our thoughts and prayers at this time of sorrow.

  3. I have known Edsel all my life as he flew air planes with my Dad…we would see one another from time to time and spoke of old times…I am sad for your loss and wish you all the best…

  4. Inez, thinking of you and your whole family at this sad time. Edsel will be missed by many.
    Mary Alice Davis

  5. With sincere condolences to the Edsel Holden family and friends. He will be remembered for his musical talents and committment to serve his community. God bless.

  6. January 4, 2020

    Dear Inez, Laura and Family,

    We are so sorry that we were unable to attend Edsel’s service. We have not fully recovered from the surgeries that we had recently.

    We are so sorry that we were unable to attend Edsel’s service. We have not fully recovered from recent surgeries that we both had. We are certain that it was a beautiful service. He deserved one.

    We considered Edsel a friend that goes back to Coffee High School in the 1950’s (we can remember so well you and Edsel dancing at the Parrish House). We thoroughly enjoyed his June concerts with his wonderful voice and appealing personality. He brought to this community a special event that helps make our area unique.

    He will be missed.

  7. Dear Inez and family,
    Please accept my sincere sympathy in the loss of your beloved Edsel.
    I am grateful to have had the privilege and pleasure to have known Edsel for many years. My late husband, Marty, was a great fan and we enjoyed Edsel’s music in person as well as on recordings.
    Know that my warm thoughts and prayers are with you.
    Joan Bergman (class of 1950)

  8. I was a student at Florence Junior High in the 60s and started on Alto saxophone with Henry Nichols there. In about 1962 Mr. Nichols invited Edsel to come to the school and conduct a dance band. I was the only girl in that band, I don’t think we ever played outside the school, but we did play for a talent show. I have never forgotten Edsel’s conducting and his joy in working with big band music and a bunch of young teenagers.

  9. Inez: I was Just searching for an address and noticed on my webpage that Edsel passed away two months ago. You have my sympathy in your loss and lifetime partner. I know you were the love of his life, and vice versa. I am sure you will have many fond memories, and hopefully they will help to overcome the grief and sadness which you will, no doubt, experience from time to time. I haven’t been back to Florence since our 50th high school celebration, but I will never forget the invitation and delicious meal that Edsel prepared for the three of us before my return. Over the years, I have thought about you both so I was quite shocked to read the sad news. In all sincerity, I hope you won ‘t experience any further grief in your future years. Sincerely with Sympathy, Dale Dunlap Brown – Feb 28, 2021.

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