Mr. Howard Wayne Holt, age 56, of Cohutta, Georgia, departed this life Friday, July 26, 2013 at the Health Center at Standifer in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Wayne was born April 26, 1957 in Marietta, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his father and step-mother, Howard and Betty Holt, a sister, Pam Holt and his mother-in-law, Margaret Ray. Wayne was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Falcons. He loved playing basketball, softball and riding his bicycle. Wayne was the best storyteller ever and loved entertaining his family and friends with a good story.

He is survived by his loving wife of thirty-six years, Sherry Carleen Ray Holt of the home; mother and step-father, Geraldine and Wade Lewallen of Dalton, GA; son, Nathan Holt; daughter, April Holt and Jamaal Mahoney; grandchildren, Montana, Ashala, Brice Holt and Kyson Manis; brother and sisters-in-law and sisters and brothers-in-law, David and Wanda Holt, Donna and Leonard Smith, Kim and Gentry Sebastian, Wade and Ellen Lewallen, Eric and Tracy Lewallen, Vicky Patterson, Lisa and Robert Cross, Scott and Amy Ray; father-in-law, Jerry Ray of Dalton, GA; special friend, Ashley Holt; several nieces nephews and many friends.

Services to celebrate the life of Mr. Howard Wayne Holt will be held Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Ponders Melrose Chapel with Curt Howe officiating. He will be laid to rest at Colonial Hills Memorial Park Cemetery with Kyson Manis, Jamaal Mahoney, Dillon Mitchell, Blake Smith Dewayne Mitchell and Jeremy Keener serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday and after 11:00 a.m. Tuesday until the service hour.

Arrangements by, Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, GA 30721, 706-226-4002. www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org and www.ogr.org