Marta Holt, beloved daughter, sister, teacher, and friend passed away Friday, May 31st, 2024. Her brief battle with cancer brought an unexpected end to her joyful, positive and generous life. Marta touched so many in her 58 years and her passing leaves a huge hole. Her absence will be felt by all who knew her.
Marta was preceded in death by her parents Wesley and Barbara Holt.
She is survived by sister Joelle Holt; brothers, Charlie Holt (Michele) and Wesley Holt (Brooke); nephews, Joseph Holt, Jamie Holt and Jaxson Holt; niece Sierra Robertson (Justin); and great-nieces Scarlet Rose and Saylor Rae. Marta also leaves behind dear friends Jana Cowgill, Dorothy Whitehead, Tina Fugate, Melodie Griffis, David Godwin and many more, too numerous to list. Her pets, Liza, Laz and Luna will miss her most of all.
Marta’s love was a force of nature and her voice helped fill the world around her with song. She was a passionate member of the Shiloh Singers, a loving teacher of choir at Elmwood Middle School and an active member in the Arkansas Razorback Alumni Band.
Once Marta swept into your life, she stayed, thus creating a large community of friends, “framily”, colleagues and students. Marta’s friendship knew no boundaries and crossed many roles, forming lifelong connections
Marta was also an avid quilter, and loved participating in other arts, including painting and photography. She loved nature and enjoyed the beauty around her on “Marta’s Hilltop”.
Marta leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter and music for her family, friends and students to remember and carry on.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Beard’s Funeral Chapel.
Please join us for a celebration of her life at 1:30 PM Thursday, June 6, 2024 at First Baptist Church Fayetteville with Rev. Sara Pair officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Memorial Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Beard’s Chapel.
In lieu of flowers a Memorial Scholarship in Marta’s name has been set-up for Elmwood music students.
Praying for you Joelle, Charlie, and Wesley. Your sister meant so much to so many. I know she will be missed.
I am deeply saddened by Marta’s passing but am comforted that she is with her parents. Marta was amazing and this world will miss her loving energy. Prayers up for all who loved her!
She was the best choir teacher I had and loved. She meant the world to many and was beloved at Elmwood Middle School.
She was my choir teacher in elmwood middle school I will be miss her
She was an awesome person. She taught both my children at Elmwood and was always there for our family. She even came to my son’s funeral even after he was already in High school. She was and always will be the best. She was one of the only teachers my daughter trusted and loved especially after my son died. She took my daughter under her wing and made sure she felt just as loved as her brother. Fly high with the Angels.
There is a circle and Marta held it together for so many years. So when you hold hands in a circle, remember her amongst yourselves. We are so sorry to hear of her passing, praying for the family and friends.
My heart goes out to the family. Marta was loved by many. May she be in peace and smile up us. 💔
Marta was an amazing and talented woman. Always kind and loved her family and her students. Music was where her heart was. Now she is singing in the most important choir ever. Prayers for those who are left.
I did not have the honor of knowing Marta a long time, but the little time I spent in her presence was a delight. A friendly, caring energy surrounded her and it elevated all around her.
Wes, Charlie and Joelle, I am very sorry to know you lost a wonderful sister. I will never forget Marta’s smile and positive attitude. She left so much love for all of you and for so many people. I pray so that she finds eternal peace and is reunited with your parents. Prayers for all of you 🙏🏼
My sincere condolences to her family and closest friends. I will always love Marta, and forever be grateful for her having been part of my life. She was a blessing to all who knew her. Truly a life well lived.
Marta, it’s been awhile since being in middle school, but to this day you have always made an impact on not just mine but many lives. You created an environment around you everywhere you went to keep a positive and happy mindset. I remember getting car sick and sitting by you, you said just look around you, enjoy the beautiful things our God has given us. Marta, this has stuck with me for over 7 years now. I want to thank you for letting us cry, be happy, or even just express how our day has been. You were the kindest, sweetest, and most loving women I have met and you will be missed. Sing loud up there! It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later 💕🎵
She was a wonderful teach her, I loved having her as a choir teacher. She was always sweet and positive and never judged anyone she came across. She will be greatly missed
What a wonderful tribute to a beautiful soul!! The world has lost one of the kindest people I know. Her smiles will be missed by so many.
My heart goes out to Marta’s family and “framily.” She was truly a wonderful person inside and out. We messaged her a couple weeks ago to check in on her, she was always so optimistic and in great spirits. She’s healed of any illness and pain, singing in the highest choir of all. She will deeply missed by all ❤️
Ms. Holt was my choir teacher and guitar teacher, while I learned much about music, I learned so much more about confidence and optimism from her. You touched so many lives and you will forever be in our hearts.
The passing of our Marta Lynn has still not registered to my heart. I’m remembering the years when the Holt, Yandell, Lewis, Burrows, Taylor and Rogers kids were all together as young children. Their parents, eight of us first cousins, were more like siblings. We often called ourselves a “Clan” because we were always there for each other. Marta took her love of family to a greater level and was a a friend to everyone. She will be missed by those she left behind but what a wonderful reunion with those that have gone on before.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Marta Holt will be missed for sure.
What a beautiful tribute for a wonderful lady, friend, and sister. I will never forget my time spent with Marta from Ramay, FHS Band, and after. She was a special person full of love, laughter, and music. I am so sad for the Holt siblings and extended family.
Marta will be missed beyond measure. She was such a beautiful person and our family was blessed to call her our friend. Her passing is a tough one to process. Rest in peace our sweet Marta. May the family and friends find comfort at this difficult time.
Ms. Holt was my kaleidoscope teacher in 91,92.
She was a great teacher and a beautiful person. She would never give up on her students. I pray for peace for her family.
Sweet Marta ~ What a gift you were to the world – a strong woman, always smiling and full of joyful hospitality. Bella and I have reminisced fondly of our visit passing through AR when you welcomed us for a stopover. You didn’t fuss a budge when Bella jumped up on the living room sofa. She was so tired from traveling, and you were a gracious hostess to friend and fur-babies alike. What a beautiful home you created, and now you are singing amongst the stars and Heavenly Angels. You shared so much with the world with your gifts of music, quilting, gracious hospitality, your beautiful flowers and trees, and now you have all of Eternity to sing joyfully in the home which GOD has prepared for you. You will be missed. <3
To Joelle, Wesley, and Charlie ~ You are lifted in prayer for comfort and peace during this time of expedient and unexpected loss. The reality will set in before too long, and you will have your beautiful memories of Marta to share with each other as well as many friends for consolation and support. It seems appropriate to share these words with you now also in song, "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24 – 26). May your days and months ahead be filled with only warm, loving memories of your beautiful sister. <3 Hugs and Wags from Bella, too ~ Lisa Blake
I went to school with Marta and was in choir with her. She was one of the most genuinely nice people I ever knew. And, like most every post I have seen, she really did always have a smile on her face. I kept up with her on Facebook and she had such a love for life, her family, music and the arts. She brought joy to everyone, even those of us who only had contact with her through Facebook. The world has lost a huge light and force of love and good. To Marta’s family, framily, and school, I wish you love and peace and healing throughout the coming days, weeks and months of grief to come. She is definitely singing with a heavenly host now. Rest in peace, Marta.
Marta was a huge blessing in my life. She was the most supportive teacher. While in choir, she helped me have confidence when I had none. She didn’t give up on me, no matter how quiet I was. She didn’t stop being there for me once I left high school either, but kept up with me through the years through my celebrations and my sad times. I know she is greatly missed and my prayers go out to friends and family.
We are forever grateful for the friendship years with Marta, for the loving, accepting human that she was to everyone, and for her kind, sharing personality through teaching and connecting with others through music. Her gifts were great, and our loss is greater. Rest in peace sweet friend.
I will miss Marta as will so many others. She was a special person whose love knew no boundaries. As a special education teacher at Elmwood with Marta, I always knew that I could place my kids in her choir class and she would welcome them and they would quickly become her kids too. She celebrated their successes along with me and would often come to my class on the other end of the building a sweet or funny story she had to share about one or more of them. She will be missed by many as a great teacher and friend and of course by her family. I say goodbye for now, but I’ll see her again.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with Marta’s family and friends. She will be missed by students, staff, and parents at Rogers public schools.
I did not know Marta but I can tell buy what I have read about her that she was a wonderful person. I am so sorry we lost her to soon. Heaven has another angel now.
Ms. Holt instilled a love for music into the hearts of my children. She touched many of our lives and we are thankful for her. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family during this time.
I’m so sorry for your loss. We will all miss Marta’s hugs, encouragement, and smiles. She, no doubt, is singing in that great heavenly choir.
Joelle, your sister was such a blessing to everyone who knew her. She was the kind of friend that it didn’t matter how long it had been since you saw her you could pick right back up where you left off. As if no time in past, that is a gift. She will be greatly missed. We are praying for you and your family as you go through this time.❤️
Ms Holt always nice and sweet teacher I ever had and she use to be my choir teacher as well at Elmwood Middle School. Everyone and I will miss you!!
Marta always had a smile on her face. She was an awesome teacher. Every time I’d run in to her, usually at Newk’s, she never failed to come over and ask if I still liked retirement. She will be deeply missed by her students, friends and family. The choir in heaven just got a lot better.
Marta’s love of music and passion for teaching music is a lasting legacy to the many generations of people she influenced. May her spirit and essence be immersed in the most splendid ethereal choirs of the cosmos.
I knew Marta as a fellow music teacher. Though we never worked directly together she always greeted me with a huge smile and tight, full body hug. Those hugs always had a way of making me feel full and accepted. I’ll miss her tremendously. May Marta’s memory always be a blessing to her family and those who new and loved her.
I had her as a choir teacher for my entire time in high school and she was a great teacher. I am sorry for your loss.
Ms. Holt is one of those persons that live in the back of your mind even after so many years. She was my choir teacher back in 2011-2012. I’ll never forget the way she made me feel. She fueled my passion and love for music. There was a warm motherly energy to her. She saw my potential and pushed me towards greatness. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones, she truly was an exceptional women, teacher, and mentor.
Thank you Martha for seeing me for who I was and not just some rebellious child. Thank you for the best choir concerts, always so full of love and energy🙏🏼🤍
Prayers to the family and friends impacted. Her kind nature will always be remembered.
Compassion to Marta’s family. She was a great singer and Lady. So glad to have heard her from the audience, and to have worked on stage with her.
I met Marta many years ago during the ACO summer musicals and chorale. What a loving & sweet person always with a big smile & hug. Condolences to all of you. Her spirit will live on forever with anyone who knew her.
Marta was in Schola Cantorum with me back in the 80s and we had lots of classes together. She and I would take choir, then run up to the Hyper Bldg to aerobics and somehow made it in 15 mins. Good times!!
She is a beautiful memory in my life with her nurturing spirit, beautiful alto voice and constant smile.
Miss Holt was my choir teacher when I was in middle school. She was one of my favorite teachers and made school so much more fun. I looked forward to her class everyday and could always tell her anything. She was that teacher that just made you feel loved and you could tell she actually cared. I will always be grateful for the time I got to spend in class with such an amazing sweet wonderful woman! I will miss you miss Holt. I am praying for her family and all her friends in this hard time. Till we see you again in heaven, we love you miss Holt!
Our deepest condolences and most heartfelt prayers go out to all family and friends of dear Marta. Our girls were in her choir at Elmwood and of course she made a tremendous impact on their little lives. They would still go back and visit when they could. We would always seek her out when we attended choir concerts at RHS and greet and sing her praises and thank her wholeheartedly. She was a tremendously kind and dear soul. We as a family shall miss her always. We are only consoled in knowing she is no longer in any pain and now sings resplendently in her rightful place at the hand of god in the Lords choir. We send our love forever. Rick, Mona, Jennifer and Aluria
My sincere condolences and prayers to Ms. Holt’s family and friends. I want to say thank you for helping my daughter, Ava in her transition from Malvern to Rogers during her 8th grade year. Prayers to you all.