Russell G Holland

Russell G. Holland was born on December 25, 1957, in Chandler, Oklahoma to Junior Burgess and RosaLee (Neal) Holland. Russell departed this life of Sunday, December 17, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 65.

Russell G. Holland, a proud life-long Chandler, Oklahoma resident graduated from Chandler High School in 1976. After high school, He worked various jobs including a Barber Shop where he shoe shined, worked for the lumber yard, and also a carpenter with his brother (Eddie Holland), before the birth of his second son. Russell graduated from Oklahoma Basic Police Academy in May of 1980 and worked for both the Stroud Police Department and Chandler Police Department, where later becoming the first African American Chief of Police in the history of Chandler, Oklahoma (and for the Chandler Police Department). He also served as a Fire Fighter, an EMT Basic Instructor, and served on the Civil Defense for the Chandler Fire Department during the 1980s as well. Russell also opened Russell’s School of Karate in Chandler in the early 1980s and the karate school remained open until April of 2021. He obtained the highest-level rank level in a martial arts system by obtaining the rank of a 10th Degree Black Belt and held three other black belts in three different systems of the martial arts.

In the early 1990s, Russell returned back to the City of Chandler, where he worked at Bell Cow Lake, later becoming the Assistant Public Works Director, and served as the Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Chandler until his retirement in 2021. Russell was a God-fearing man and was a faithful servant in his church and community. He was a member of the Central Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and later an assistant pastor, then went on to serve as the Assistant Pastor at Lane Chapel CME and later served as the Assistant Pastor of God’s House of Prayer Services (GHOPS) of which all were in Chandler.

Russell was a proud father who enjoyed spending time with his children. He wore the title of “father” with pride, and if you knew Russell, he often talked about his sons and grandchildren who he absolutely loved! He was a giving man who loved people from all walks of life. Russell enjoyed fishing, photography, cooking, watching movies, helping others, and his ministry at the Chandler Nursing Center, including being an avid OU Football and OKC Thunder fan. Russell preached his final two sermons, in over two years, at the nursing facility where he was residing in Oklahoma City before being called home by our Lord!

Russell G. Holland is preceded in death by both of his parents and sisters Rosa Linda Holland, Virginia Ellison. He leaves to cherish in his memory his three sons Eric Holland, Ramario Holland, and Joshua Holland, and his four grandchildren DeAnthony Holland, Isaiah Holland, Zane and Zia Pásztor-Holland; his brother Eddie Holland; and sisters Jackie Holland, Barbara Holland, and Valintina Carter; his aunt, Barbara Long; and a host of other relatives and friends whom he dearly loved.