Shirley Francine Holland Gregg

Celebrating the Life of Shirley Francine Holland Gregg Sunrise: October 24, 1932 Sunset: September 10, 2025 Early Life On October 24, 1932, Carroll Edward Holland and Clara Finkley Holland planned to celebrate his birthday; instead, they welcomed the birth of their first child, Shirley Francine, who made her grand entrance into the world that day. Shirley was later joined by two sisters, Michaelle Holland Nesbit and Carrolyn Holland Glascoe. The three girls were raised in East Baltimore, where they attended Baltimore City Public Schools. During her early years, Shirley took piano lessons, which sparked her love of music and dance. She especially enjoyed ballet. Her love of ballet necessitated that she had to travel from East Baltimore to the YWCA in West Baltimore because of segregation, which limited access to many resources for Black families. Education and Career Education was a mandate in the Holland household. After graduating from Dunbar High School, she explored opportunities at Morgan State College, Coppin State College, and the nursing program at Provident Hospital. Shirley attended Morgan State for one year before entering a new program at Provident Hospital designed to prepare Black students for careers as medical technicians. After completing the two-year program, she worked at Provident and later secured a position at Sinai Hospital, where she contributed to research projects such as sudden infant death syndrome. In 1959, Shirley accepted a position at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, becoming the first African American medical technician in the Blood Bank of the NIH Clinical Center. She dedicated 42 years of service there, persevering through racial barriers while contributing to research in blood safety and AIDS studies. Shirley’s compassion extended beyond her profession. She developed a lasting bond with a family friend battling AIDS. She often delivered his medication personally to Baltimore, saving him the strain of travel. After retiring, Shirley volunteered with Head Start, where she delighted in supporting the program while her grandson was enrolled. Family Life On January 19, 1963, Shirley married Archer Gregg, who preceded her in death. Together they lovingly raised two daughters, Cara Gregg and Audrey Cofield. Shirley was a devoted and proud grandmother to Zachary Lewis and Sydney Cofield, and a cherished mother-in-law to Jamie Cofield. She was also a loving aunt to her nieces and nephews, always offering her warmth and guidance to her extended family. Legacy Shirley Francine Holland Gregg lived a life of resilience, compassion, and service. From breaking barriers in medical research to nurturing her family with steadfast love, she left a legacy that will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

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Shirley Francine Holland Gregg

October 24, 1932 - September 10, 2025