Tributes

It is with deep sorrow that Mrs. Sherry Burton Holt and her family announce the death of her beloved husband, The Honorable Michael Shea Holt, Sr., 54, Judge of the Fourth Circuit, Darlington County, South Carolina. Judge Holt entered into rest on Sunday, July 28, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home & Crematory are caring for the family. A funeral service to honor his life will be held at 1 o'clock on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church, 213 West Home Avenue, Hartsville, SC. The Reverend Ashley Cheek will officiate the services, and a reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. A private family burial will be held. Michael loved his church deeply and asked for those wishing to send floral tributes to consider a memorial to First Presbyterian Church, 213 West Home Avenue, Hartsville, South Carolina 29550, or to the Trent Hill Center for Children & Families, 522 West Bobo Newsom Highway, Hartsville, SC 29550. Judge Michael S. Holt was born on May 1, 1970, in Hartsville, SC. He was the devoted husband of 27 years to Sherry Burton Holt and a son of Jack H. Holt and Carol Milam Holt. He was educated in the Darlington County School system, graduating from Hartsville High School in 1988. From 1988-1992, he attended the University of South Carolina, earning a bachelor’s degree in history and minoring in South Carolina studies. During college, Judge Holt was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and the Student Alumni Association. He also worked for the South Carolina State Senate. Following his undergraduate studies, he attended the University of South Carolina School of Law from 1993-1996. After completing his law school studies, Michael returned to Hartsville, where he joined the law firm of the late Senator Ed Saleeby. In 2005, he was elected Mayor of Hartsville, serving a four-year term from 2005-2009. He was an adjunct professor at Coker College and served as president of the Hartsville Kiwanis Club, as well as a board member of the Hartsville YMCA and the Hartsville Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of F3, along with many other clubs and organizations within his community. In 2008, he was awarded the Distinguished Young Alumni Award at USC, followed by the KA Court of Honor, and most recently, the Order of the Palmetto. Michael was elected to the Family Court bench in May 2008 and served in that capacity until his election to the Circuit Court bench in February 2021. He has served continuously as a Circuit Court Judge for the Fourth Judicial Circuit from 2021 to the present. Michael’s greatest joy was his family. He and his family shared a passion for the University of South Carolina. Attending games in Columbia with their children was a favorite family pastime. Michael also had a deep love for South Carolina and American history, a love inherited by his son, Shea. He enjoyed exploring battlefields, museums, and historical sites with his father and son. Michael followed local and national politics closely. He was proud of his daughter, Annabelle, when upon graduation from USC, continued his love for politics and currently works on the Hill in Washington DC. Michael loved sharing in her experiences there. He is survived by his loving wife, Sherry Burton Holt of Hartsville, SC; daughter, Annabelle Burton Holt of Washington, DC; son, Michael Shea Holt, Jr. of Hartsville, SC; father, Jack Holt of Hartsville, SC; mother, Carol Milam Holt of Hartsville, SC; sister, Shannon Holt (Brian) Rice of Huntersville, NC; brother, David Townsand (Amy) Holt of Hartsville, SC; sister-in-law, Donyelle (Walt) Wilkins, III of Greenville, SC; niece, Mary Burton Wilkins; nephews, Sam Holt Rice, Walt Wilkins IV, and McCoy Wilkins. He was preceded in death by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Donald and Judy Burton.

Tributes

The Hon. Michael Shea Holt Sr.

May 1, 1970 - July 28, 2024