In the life of the church, there are servants whose ministry quietly shapes generations.

The Rev. John Emory Holler Jr. was one of those rare leaders – pastor, mentor, advocate and friend – whose life bore witness to the love of Christ in ways that will continue to echo across the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church and far beyond.

Rev. Holler – who pastored local churches for three decades before his 15-year tenure as president and CEO of Epworth Children’s Home – died March 27. He was 78. (Obituary)

Those who knew him best describe a man whose presence carried both warmth and conviction: a pastor who listened deeply, expected the best of others and never lost sight of God’s grace at work in every person.

“Punching holes in the darkness”

The Rev. Ken Nelson, superintendent of the Orangeburg District, has a unique perspective on Epworth Children’s Home, having been a resident there during a difficult time in his youth and now as a member of the Epworth Board of Trustees.

He remembers Rev. Holler as someone whose faith was lived out in action.

“John Holler was a man who punched holes in the darkness of every space that he entered so that light and joy flooded the space,” Rev. Nelson said. “Whether he was advocating for the well-being of children in South Carolina or Africa, or tending the spiritual well-being of thousands of folks across this state, his was a life that made a difference.

“Today, the light in our world seems a little less bright, but when I think of John Holler I smile – and get back to my own work of punching holes in darkness.”

“A miracle for children”

That light shone especially brightly through Rev. Holler’s ministry with children and young people. Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, who served for 12 years as South Carolina’s resident bishop, recalled Rev. Holler’s deep and lifelong connection to the mission of Epworth Children’s Home and to the wellbeing of young people across the state.

“He had a love for children and a love for helping these young people find their way and get on a solid footing,” Bishop Holston said. Rev. Holler knew the stories and struggles of the children he served and approached his work with a listening heart and unwavering compassion.

His concern for children extended beyond the walls of the church to the broader community, making him, in Bishop Holston’s words, “a miracle for children – yeah, that was John.”

“A daily expression of love”

Beth Williams, who succeeded Rev. Holler as Epworth’s president and CEO, remembers a leader who was as comfortable preaching in the pulpit as he was joking with children in the dining hall.

“He was humble, soft spoken, kind hearted – strong when he needed to be,” she said, “but for all of us who knew him well, he was just a joy and an expression of love on a daily basis.”

Williams recalls that Rev. Holler loved being with the children – donning a bunny costume at Epworth events or sitting down with them for meals – moments that revealed his playful side and his deep pastoral heart. For many children, she said, he became something of a grandfather or surrogate parent – someone who showed them the love of Christ in tangible ways.

Rev. Holler took over as Epworth’s leader during a time of dramatic change in the landscape of services for abused and neglected children. He had a vision of how Epworth could not only provide a home for these vulnerable children, but could also be a haven and center where families could learn to be more secure, happy, and attuned to the children in their care.

From that vision was born the Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing, which has positioned Epworth with a statewide missional footprint to provide a continuum of services aimed at strengthening families regardless of their involvement in child welfare.

For countless clergy across the South Carolina Annual Conference, Rev. Holler was also a mentor whose quiet encouragement shaped their own ministries.

“Passionate about helping people”

When the Rev. Megan Gray became the pastor at Epworth Children’s Home in 2007, she was “young and definitely in over my head.” Rev. Holler took time to guide her through the complexities of ministry among children and youth who had experienced trauma.

“John saw something in me and took the time to develop the skills I needed to be the pastor that the children and youth of Epworth needed,” said Rev. Gray, now the pastor at St. Paul UMC in Spartanburg and an Epworth trustee. “He taught me to be patient with myself and others. He taught me how to understand and navigate the trauma that our residents were experiencing. He gave me the space I needed to do things my way, but also the support I needed when I wasn’t sure what the right way was.

“And he didn’t just do that for me. He did it for everyone. He was passionate about helping people be the best they could be.”

“Just a great listener”

The Rev. Cathy Jamieson experienced Rev. Holler’s care in a deeply personal way. The two first served together briefly at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, where Jamieson quickly came to see his integrity and compassion. Later, during a particularly difficult season in her life, she turned to Rev. Holler for counsel.

“He helped me through a dark crisis and was just a great listener,” she said. “He was a man of great passion and compassion, and he loved fiercely and fully everyone in his circle and everyone outside his circle. He just had the heart of Jesus, and his legacy will live on not just through his work at Epworth, but all across the state.

“He made an impact on lives, and I know he made an impact on mine, and I am more resilient in ministry because of John’s good counseling skills. I’m grateful to God for having known him.”

Others remember Rev. Holler’s gift for encouraging people to discover their calling.

“A master class in tough love”

The Rev. Laurie Brandes, pastor of Asbury Memorial UMC in Columbia, worked at Epworth for more than three decades and remembers a conversation during a time of change in the ministry.

Rev. Holler gently suggested that she might be called to become a licensed local pastor. His encouragement eventually led her to retire from Epworth and begin a second career in ministry. Reflecting on their years working together, she recalled the compassion he showed both staff and students.

When a group of Epworth students at Spartanburg Methodist College struggled academically, Rev. Holler personally drove to Spartanburg to meet with them and challenge them with what Rev. Brandes described as “a master class in tough love.”

At the same time, he demonstrated deep generosity. When a student needed medical care that was not covered by Medicaid, Rev. Holler immediately insisted that Epworth cover the expense.

“He was a strict steward of resources,” Rev. Brandes said, “but I don’t recall the children ever being denied anything they truly needed.”

When she heard of his passing, she said the words that kept coming back to her heart were simple: “He was so good to me.”

“Blow it up”

The Rev. Meg Cook, pastor of Grace UMC in Columbia, served as Epworth’s pastor for four years. She remembers Rev. Holler as someone who gave young pastors confidence to lead authentically. During her first week at Epworth, she found herself worrying about making too many changes too quickly.

Rev. Holler’s response surprised her: “Blow it up…do ministry the way God has called you to do it. You can do this.”

Rev. Cook said that moment gave her the confidence to trust her own gifts and calling. She also remembers that Rev. Holler’s office was rarely empty; children and staff frequently stopped by simply to talk, knowing they would be heard. His listening was so attentive, she said, it felt “almost like magic.”

“Not always words, but simply presence”

Rev. Fran Elrod remembers a similar experience from early in her ministry when Rev. Holler would intentionally sit beside quieter pastors during gatherings, inviting them into conversation and making sure they felt included.

“John taught me about effective communication,” she said. “The lesson of always knowing effective communication was not necessarily with words, but with presence.”

Decades later, she still carries that lesson with her every time she writes a letter or email or speaks with a congregant.

“You can always come home”

For the children who lived at Epworth, Rev. Holler’s pastoral care was often expressed through simple but powerful words. The Rev. Faye Jones, associate pastor of Union UMC in Irmo who once served Epworth, recalls how he would visit children preparing to leave the campus.

Whether they were returning to family or moving to a new placement, he would offer them reassurance: “Remember, you can always come home,” reminding them that Epworth would always remain a place of belonging.

“A passion for children”

Rev. Holler’s influence reached far beyond South Carolina as well. The Rev. Dr. Owen K. Ross, senior pastor of First UMC in Coppell, Texas, served with Rev. Holler on the board of the Fairfield Outreach & Sponsor Association, a ministry supporting orphaned children near Old Mutare Mission in Zimbabwe.

Rev. Ross remembers traveling with Rev. Holler to Africa and witnessing firsthand his deep commitment to children’s welfare.

“John had a passion for children…I am a better person for having him as a friend,” Rev. Ross said, remembering him as “a hero of faith and service.”

In 2022, under Rev. Holler’s leadership, Epworth donated $800,000 to the Fairfield Children’s Home – a promise kept as part of Epworth’s $8 million campaign to establish and operate the multiple programs under the Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing.

 “A lasting difference in the lives of others”

Even beyond the church, Rev. Holler’s life of service was widely recognized.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a friend of Rev. Holler’s since their college days, presented Rev. Holler with The Order of The Palmetto – the state’s highest civilian honor.

“Reverend John E. Holler Jr. lived a life of service that made a lasting difference in the lives of others,” Gov. McMaster said. “Through his faith, compassion and understanding, he uplifted those around him and strengthened the community he loved.

“He was a gentle man. By his example, he inspired others to kindness, humility, and purpose. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, including Peggy and me.”

“What it means to follow Christ”

When Bishop Leonard Fairley heard the news of Rev. Holler’s passing, he turned to Scripture for solace and guidance: “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?” (II Samuel 3:38)

“Well, a prince of a man with a passion for the least and the last has fallen in the South Carolina Annual Conference,” Bishop Fairley said. “Rev. John Holler was a prince of a leader who led from the heart with humility. This prince, who walked and worked among us as a child of the light, has fallen, but the legacy of that light will continue to burn brightly in every corner he touched – among the many pastors he mentored, among the churches he shepherded, but especially among those residents and families served by Epworth Children’s Home.

“While we grieve the loss of one of the giants of Methodism in the South Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, we remember the light in whose shadow and footsteps he walked. John left behind for us all an example of what it means to follow Christ.”

That legacy will continue to live on in the pastors he mentored, the ministries he strengthened and the countless children whose lives were changed through Epworth Children’s Home. In the life of the Rev. John E. Holler Jr., the church witnessed a servant who embodied the gospel – one who listened well, loved deeply and helped others see the light of Christ in themselves. And because of that faithful witness, the light he carried will continue to shine for generations to come.