— The funeral for Erma Claud Holt, 86, of Athens will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Robert Staples, Ben Holt, and Sean Holt officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.

Visitation was from 6-9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at the funeral home.

Mrs. Holt died on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at home.

Erma Helen Claud Holt was born on Nov. 27, 1925, in Giles County, Tenn. She was a member of the Pettusville Church of Christ, and a retired schoolteacher from the Limestone County Schools. She taught for more than 30 years. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degree from Athens State College. She taught English and language arts at Ardmore High School where she also was the yearbook sponsor and a sponsor of the senior class. When she retired from the school system, she did volunteer work for the Athens-Limestone Hospital. She loved teaching and the many hours she devoted to working with students. The time spent with her family was the greatest joy of her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben Holt; her parents, Linsley and Ruth Claud; and her son-in-law, Lawrence Alan Staples. She was also preceded in death by seven brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie Ferrell Holt and Peggy Black Holt of Elkmont; her daughter, Jane Holt Staples of Florence; her grandchildren, Missy Holt Bailey of Elkmont, Robert Alan Staples of Florence, Ben Ferrell Holt of Lexington, Tenn., Sean Ellerson Holt of Elkmont, and Betsy Staples Miniclier of Huntsville; and 18 great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by two sisters, Allie Mae Tate of Prospect, Tenn., and Laverne Henderson of Winfield; and a brother, H.T. Claud of Pulaski, Tenn.

A special note of thanks to her caregivers, Bert Fraser, Betty Ivey and Jane Dilworth for the love and care they gave “Mrs. Erma.”

Pallbearers will be Kevin Bailey, Jeff Miniclier, Wesley Staples, Rhett Bailey, Jared Bailey and Chance Bailey.

Sign the online guestbook at http://limestonechapel.com.