Holly Neaves Mcmillan Gambill

Holly Breeze Neaves McMillan Gambill, age 96, of Elkin, NC passed away Thursday, May 3, 2018.  She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 17, 1921 to Elsie Robinson Smith and James Frederick Smith.  Her childhood years were spent in Miami Beach, Florida and her teen years in Tilton, New Hampshire.   She attended the University of North Carolina, where she met and married the love of her life, Charles Mitchell Neaves.  Following Charles’ World War II service and completion of law school, they returned to his home in Elkin, where they raised their five children.  They were married over 40 years when he passed away in 1983.  Several years later, Holly married Judge James Bryan McMillan and resided with him in Charlotte until his death in 1995.  She later married Dr. John Milton Gambill, and they spent 20 happy years together until his death in 2016.

Holly loved all things in nature, especially birdwatching, photographing wildflowers, and hiking in the mountains.  Holly was an accomplished artist, who created beautiful Christmas cards each year from her original paintings.  She also loved tennis, fishing, collecting antiques, playing cards with her friends, and the Carolina Tarheels.  Throughout her life, Holly was an advocate of peace, equality, generosity, and kindness. Holly was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Elkin, and she was instrumental in starting her community’s Feed the Elderly program.  Holly was a strong swimmer who taught many young children to swim, and in her 60’s dove into an icy lake to save the life of a drowning man. The joy that Holly found in her faith, her family, and her friends was clearly seen in her ever present smile.

Holly is survived by her five children, William Avery Neaves, Michael Robinson Neaves, Holly Neaves Going (Sam), Gayle Neaves Lyles (Allen), and Charles Mitchell Neaves, Jr. (Susan), 13 grandchildren and 20 great-children, her brother, James Robinson Smith, and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be conducted on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Elkin by the Rev. Michael A. Shuford.  The family will greet friends following the service in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church 340 Hawthorne Road, Elkin, NC 28621; Elkin Valley Trails PO Box 91, Elkin, NC 28621; or the charity of the donor’s choice.

The family would like to thank the many doctors and caregivers for their loving care given to Mrs. Gambill.