J. William Holden, Jr. D.D.S.

Dr. J. William (Bill) Holden, Jr. passed away on July 19, 2024. Dr. Holden was the son of J. W. Holden, Sr. and Eleanor Reeves Holden. He was born in Augusta, Georgia, on July 27, 1934. He was of the Methodist faith. He was educated at William Robinson Grammar School and graduated from the Academy of Richmond County in 1951 with high honors. In 1953, he attended the then Junior College of Augusta, also with high honors. After working and spending two years in the U.S. Army, he enrolled at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He then attended Emory University School of Dentistry in Atlanta where he was a member of the Xi Psi Phi dental fraternity and graduated in 1961. He returned to Augusta to start his dental practice. 

Dr. Holden was a member of the Augusta Dental Society, serving as president; the Eastern District Dental Society, also serving as president; the Georgia Dental Association, where he was recognized as an Honorable Fellow; and the American Dental Association. He also served on the Richmond County Board of Health. He was appointed to the Georgia Board of Dentistry, where he served several terms and served as president. Dr. Holden was a member of the Southern Regional Testing Agency and the Central Regional Testing Agency. He was a member of the Southern Conference of Dental Deans and Examiners and the American Association of Dental Examiners. He was a Fellow in the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Academy of Dentists International. Dr. Holden was a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society. Dr. Holden was a Knight in the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.

He was predeceased by his parents, his brother James R. Holden, and by the mother of his two sons. He is survived by his sons J. William Holden, III (Donna) and Randolph O. Holden; two granddaughters, Carson Holden Ward (Cooper) and Mary Reeves Holden; sister-in-law, Elizabeth W. “Boots” Holden; his niece, Michelle Holden Paschal (Barry); his nephew, James R. Holden, Jr.; three great nieces, Essa Paschal Jones (Greg), Ellie Paschal Dosch (Matt), and Annie Paschal; and his longtime companion, Paula Harwell. He will especially miss his Wednesday night lake friends, Raymond Swann, Scott Higgins, Tom Neville, Bobby Culpepper, Bobby Meybohm, Dan Blanton, Frank Wilson and the late Jim Holden, Carl Swanson, Roy Tritt, Rick Rogers and Dick Wimmer. 

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 26, 2024, at 11:OO AM at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors at 214 Davis Road, Augusta, GA 30907, with a reception to follow at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

 In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Donated Dental Services or the American Cancer Society.