A Time To Be Born
Bertha West Holloway was born on December 22, 1922 to parents Rev. Green Erin West and Irene Thomas West of Brotmanville, NJ. She was the eighth of eleven children and she was the last surviving daughter of the original West lineage. Bertha was a founding member of St. James Baptist Church, devout in her faith, served as an usher, served as a missionary and was the oldest Mother of her church family at St. James Baptist Church and the oldest member on the Mother board.

A Time To Rejoice
She was married to James Holloway for 12 years, until he passed in 1965. They lived and owned a productive livestock farm on Marshall Mill Road, Franklin Township. Though they never had children of their own, she came to be the mother of all her many nieces and nephews. She especially enjoyed taking time out to visit her beloved niece, Joan West Thomas of Philadelphia, and also traveled frequently to New Brunswick, NJ to visit her sister-in-law, Marion West (wife of the late Roy West).

Aunt Berkie worked in several companies throughout her employment time including: The State School, Vineland, NJ, Rossi Clothing Company, Vineland, NJ and for a short while for the city of Philadelphia.

A Time for Commitment
Bertha West Holloway formerly of Luther Acres where she resided for over 30 years departed this life peacefully on January 8, 2016 during the dawning hours at Bishop McCarthy Residence. The absence of her dynamic personality and mystical charm will leave a void in the hearts of her caregivers Henry Robinson, Jaclyn Phillips, and Lisa Phillips and Joan Thomas. She will be deeply missed by a multitude of nieces, nephews and extensive church family. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Kenneth Saunderson; a host of nieces and nephews, Yvonne Browne, Edward Dorn, Jean Jackson, Elaine Duncan Gray, Evelyn LaSure Allen, Janet Livley, Danny Seegars, Joan Thomas, Marlene Goode, Michael West, Stephanie Johnson Norwood, Theron Berdie Johnson, Deedee Robinson Burch, Lois Habersham, Jaclyn Phillips and Henry Robinson, great, great-great, and great-great-great nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Friday, January 15, 2016 11am at St James Baptist Church Gershal Avenue Norma, NJ where family and friends may attend a viewing from 10am - 11am. Interment will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery Vineland.