Lynn Holmes Trotter
February 20, 1944 ~ April 20, 2010
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Lynn Holmes Trotter was born February 20th, 1944 in Durham, NC to Reid Thomas Holmes and Betty Pollard Holmes. She grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, was educated there in the public school system, and graduated from Duke University in 1966. She was married in 1966 to Ben W. Trotter, Jr., also from Winston-Salem. Lynn and Ben moved to Asheville in 1970. They quickly became absorbed into the Asheville community where they made many dear friends. Within her community and her church, Lynn greatly contributed her time and many talents.
Lynn worked as a teacher and language therapist before being employed at Blue Ridge Center and Western Highlands Network where she worked for over 25 years. She was actively involved in numerous leadership positions as a volunteer in the community. Lynn was a member of the Junior League of Asheville, serving as president from 1982 - 1983. Along with many activities at Trinity Episcopal Church, she served as the vestry's Junior Warden.
Lynn is survived by her husband Ben; her son Wes Trotter, his wife Jennifer, and their two children, Anna and Silas; her son Reid Trotter and his partner Janet Pierce. She is also survived by her brother Tom Holmes, his wife Janice, and their two children Thomas and Heather. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Tom Trotter and his family as well as her sister-in-law Beth Trotter Justice and her family.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 60 Church St., Asheville, NC on Friday April 23rd at 11:00am. The family will receive friends at the church following the service.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to The Christian Alliance for Namibia, c/o Ms. Dolores Goble, 1603 North Blvd., Houston, TX, 77006; or Trinity Episcopal Church, 60 Church St., Asheville, NC, 28801 or the charity of your choice.
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My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. The contributions you have given over the years to the community and to your church are a true blessing to all. I have such fond memories of you and Ben during my life in Asheville.
Lynn’s infectious laugh and great sense of humor will remain forever in my heart. I worked with Lynn for many years and she always made each person she met feel special. She will be greatly missed.
I worked with Lynn for seveal years at Blue Ridge Center. She and I conducted audits in the surrounding counties and our time together on the road was always filled with lots of laughter. She was a lovely lady.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Lynn was a boon to the community and she will be missed.
Lynn was a supportive and encouraging to me. I appreciated her humor and positive attitude. She contributed much to the community through her volunteer work.
Lynn will be missed, I worked with Lynn over 20 years and will miss her laugh and her humor, it was a blessing to have known her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
I have known Lynn since 1987 when I worked with her at Blue Ridge Center. Her cheerful disposition and wonderful personality will always be remembered as well as her kindness and caring concern to me and my family when our daughter passed away in 1998. She will be greatly missed by me and all who had the good fortune to know her. My prayers are with her family.
My entire family sends their condolences. The entire family will be in our thoughts and prayers!
The Putnam Family
Lynn was such an amazing and uplifting person. I consider it an honor to have known and worked with her. Her grace and thoughtfulness were always a blessing to me and I will forever remember her wonderful smile and energy. I also want to extend my condolences to her family. All of you are in my prayers.
Dear Ben and Beth,
You will remember me as ‘Lee Slawter’, but since I married a ‘Lee’, I go by Elizabeth now. It was a surprise and delight to discover that Lynn worked at Blue Ridge Center when I went to work there as a therapist! We enjoyed re-connecting and looking back at pictures of old kindergarten
memories. Remember, Beth, being palm trees in one of our plays?! If I were going to be in town on Friday, I would certainly be there to celebrate Lynn’s life with you. I am certain she will be greatly missed by many, especially her family. I am confident that she is with Our Lord, smiling on all who love her.
Lovingly,
Elizabeth Lee Slawter Pantas!
From the first day I met Lynn at Blue Ridge she was full of energy and had that wonderful smile. She not only welcomed me to Blue Ridge but encouraged me everyday I saw her. She always had time for others and taught me so much. Her faith showed in all she did and I know she is well now and with Christ. My prayers and thoughts are with the family who she loved so dearly. You are in my thoughts and prayers and I thank you for sharing Lynn with all of us who worked with her through the years. She will be missed by so many.
God Bless you all and may God give you peace now and in the days ahead.
It was such a pleasure working with Lynn at Blue Ridge Center. I told a colleague today – that each and every encounter that I ever had with Lynn at work was uplifting. I loved her sense of humor and the spirit with which she entered a room. She was one of a kind.
May peace be with her husband, Ben and her family. (Although I never met them – the love with which she talked about them made me feel as though I knew them.)
Greta Byrd
Ben and family, We are so sorry to hear Lynn has passed. Although I didn’t know Lynn that well, I don’t think a day passed that you didn’t mention her and share a story. I know she is with God now and with total peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Should you need anything in the upcoming days, please do not hesitate to call.
Lynn was a lovely person and an asset to the Asheville community. I remember her as a good neighbor, a dedicated mom, and a good friend to my mother, Sallie.
I worked with Lynn at Blue Ridge Center and she always had a smile and a kind word for everyone she came in contact with. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and those who are left to morn her passing. May God grant you comfort during this time of sadness Sincerely
Lynn became ill soon after I started working at Western Highlands, so I didn’t get the chance to know her well. But even my limited encounters with Lynn made my heart smile with each one! She was always so positive and cheerful!! I thank God for the many, many folks she touched with her encouraging spirit. My sincere condolences to her beloved Ben and family for your earthly loss. I pray that it is comforting to know that Lynn is enjoying God’s company face-to-face now. God bless you and hold you close in these difficult days and months ahead.
Lynn was such a wonderful lady; she always had a smile on her face and a nice word to say. When she laughed; you couldn’t help but laugh too, her laugh was so contagious. She will be deeply and truly missed. My prayers go out to her entire family.
Was blessed to have shared many laughs and memories with Lynn over the years. My love goes out to all of you during this sad time. Her love of life and caring for everyone she came in contact with will continue forever. She was and is a light for us all.
Ben, I am so sorry to hear of Lynn’s passing. Although I never met her, we had many phone conversations as she helped with a family member in need. Lynn lifted my spirits in just a few minutes, I will never forget her willingness to go beyond the job to assure the safety and well being of our family member. May God bless and comfort Lynn’s beloved family. My sister, Judy Booth sends condolences also.
Ben and family–my wife Betty and I got to know Lynn at BR & WH over the course of two decades and considered her a good and caring friend. It helped that we Duke graduates could support each other in a pro-Carolina group. Like you, we married right after college and continued together (we for 54 years) until she died last December after months of treatment. I much appreciated Lynn’s donation to NAMI WC in Betty’s memory. Love.
I have known Lynn many years from working in MH/DD/SA Services. She was a true professional and always so kind to me. I will miss her very much.
Ben, Reed and Wes, I was saddened to hear of Lynn’s passing. She was a good friend and wonderful support to me. Her positive energy and humor always picked me up and helped move me forward. I have many fond memories of Lynn and her work and leadership at Blue Ridge. She inspired many of us. Please accept my condolences.
Lynn always treated everyone with respect and dignity. Whether they be a wealthy MD a common street person or just an ordinary colleague.
Wes and Reid, your mom was so proud of you guys and I often heard about the adventures of Anna and Silas. There truly is only one Gee bee.
She was my friend,my mentor and one of my heroes. She taught me that a lady always has a tissue up her sleeve, that your handbag should always match your shoes, that you should never gloat when Duke beat Carolina, and that a lady never lets the fellas know that she is really in charge. Thank you for sharing her. I am a better person for having had the priviledge of knowing her.
Lynn will be remembered for many things; her wonderful smile, and sense of humor, her kindness to others, and her bravery and fighting spirit are just a few. Robert and I know your loss is great, but also know you have wonderful memories of a very special person! We are so grateful to have known her! Lynell and Robert Bell
Lynn was such a ray of sunshine for so many. It was especially wonderful to see her caring ways with consumers. She was delightful and displayed an enjoyable sense of humor. She was an irreplacable gift at Blue Ridge and Western Highlands. I wish we had more time with her. She also made some incredible gingersnaps for all every Christmas.
Lynn was a community activist in the very best way. Whatever involved her got her attention 100%. She will be missed by those who knew and worked with her.
Wendy Bell
Ben, Wes & Reid:
I was heartbroken to hear that my friend/sister had passed. I have know Lynn for 20 years. Lynn & I shared many wonderful times working together . I will miss seeing and talking to her.
Wes and Reid, your mom was so proud of you. Wes Your Mom loved sharing the adventures of Anna and Silas.
I miss my friend but I have this hope that one day I will see her again. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Lynn was a dear person to me. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Ben and family,
Like so many others, I also recall Lynn’s beautiful smile and positive personality. What a gift she was to all she encountered. I know that John, my husband who died nearly three years ago and who had served on the Blue Ridge Area Board, thought very highly of her.
My heart goes out to you in your loss. I only knew Lynn for a short time. What I know is that the world has lost a ray of sunshine and heaven has gained another voice in the choir. I wish I had known her longer and better.
Dear Ben, Wes and Reid,
I was so saddened to hear from you that Lynn’s cancer had returned and she had died. What a loss to all of us.
Ever since you first came to stay with me last August while seeing doctors at M.D. Anderson here, I knew I had found some good friends. Lynn and her family have been an inspiration to me and I treasure the time we had together. My love and deepest sympathy to all of you.
Dolores
A truly beautiful light in the world has ceased to shine. Lynn in many ways became a mother providing caring and support that my birth mother did not. A truly great lady has passed and will be missed by many people.
Ben, I was sorry to hear about your wife. My Thoughts and Prayers are with you.
Dear Ben,
Lynn was my dear friend at Duke, and we shared so many memorable times – with ADPi, at her home (with her fun parents and grandmother), and at my wedding in 1965. I can’t remember Lynn without a smile on her face, which always put a smile on mine! Though I’ve not seen her in many years, my memories of her are deep and good, and I cherish them. I pray for peace of mind and heart for you and your family as you journey through these days of grieving your loss.
We lived in the Grove Park area of Asheville in the early 70’s and it was a real delight to have Lynn and Ben Trotter move into the neighborhood. We all had baby boys at that time so we shared many experiences and play dates centered around these infants. Lynn was always a ray of sunshine with everything under control, including a spotlessly clean house! We moved from Asheville in the mid-70’s but returned periodically for visits. It was always a treat to see Lynn and her lovely smile on those visits.
She will truly be missed. My condolences to Ben, Wes and Reid.
Kay McNinch
Richmond, Texas
Dear Ben,
I was so saddened today(5/19) to har about Lynn’s death. Even though we had lost touch for many years other than Christmas Cards, I still count her as a good friend of mine. What fun it was to re-connect last fall at the Biltomore House. I am sorry that I have not been in touch before. From our gathering that night, I know that Lynn made a huge impact on her community. May your memories of your time together support you in this time of mourning.
Anne Parker Phillips
Happy Birthday to you today, Lynnie Pooh, Dear Friend, Sweet Sister-in-law, Counselor Emeritus, and Advisor Extraordinaire! There’s not a day goes by that you are not with me; ever close to my heart in thought and prayer! Just want you to know that I’m still heeding your words of wisdom, and following your advice to the letter! Thank you for always being here for me, Lynn! YOU’RE THE BEST OF THE BEST! Love with more love for you, Girlfriend!