Lena Gaye Hollandsworth Duncan, 97, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026.
She was born Sept. 13, 1928, the third child of Burman Theodore Hollandsworth and Ocie Phillips Hollandsworth. She grew up on the family farm in Indian Valley, Floyd County. She learned the lesson of being responsible for others at a very young age. Her parents took her out of school as a young teenager to help with her younger siblings. Lena was determined to finish high school and went back and was a proud 1948 graduate of Willis High School. She continued to go back to Willis High School reunions into her 90’s and loved to visit with her former classmates.
Lena married Vance Vernon Duncan on June 30, 1951. They were married for 72 years until Vance passed away in February 2024. She was a member of the Valley View Primitive Baptist Church and served as the clerk for many years taking the minutes and making the monthly reports. Her Church family was very important to her.
When Lena moved to Christiansburg after high school, she had a variety of jobs but spent many years working at local garment factories including Imperial Reading. She took a job at The News Messenger in the early 1970’s as the receptionist and classified ads manager. It was a fast-paced job and she thrived there and made many lifelong friends. She retired from the newspaper in the mid 1990’s.
Lena loved her family and hosted the yearly Thanksgiving feast every year until she was 80. She loved family reunions and could help anyone with the family tree. Lena was always ready to travel. She loved going to new places and had many opportunities to travel. She almost made it to all 50 states.
Lena loved to laugh and loved to tell stories. Kai took his mom on several trips in the car to Florida and there was no need to bother with the radio. She had so many stories that they could have driven much further and she still would have had more stories to tell.
Lena lost many loved ones before her passing: parents, Burman and Ocie Hollandsworth; husband, Vance Duncan; brother Alpha Hollandsworth, sister Belva Hollandsworth, brother Theodore Hollandsworth, brother Vernon Hollandsworth, sister Hellen Hollandsworth Haynes, and sister Lora Hollandsworth Gunter.
She is leaving behind her daughter Pat Duncan, Norfolk, Va.; her son Kai Duncan, Christiansburg; her granddaughter Gabrielle Dunham, Auburn, Ala.; her grandson Sean Dunham, Tallahassee, Fla.; sisters and brothers in law: Eloise Funkhouser, Phyllis and Glenn Boyd, Sonny Gunter and David Haynes; many nieces and nephews; and special friends Jane Durrett and Ann Sinderman.
Lena was lovingly cared for in the last two years at Cozy Home Haven in Fairlawn. A special thank you to Valorie, Monique, Jamie, Christina, Amber, Crystal and Haleigh. Also, a special thank you to Jacqui at Medi Hospice and to Joelle at Carilion Hospice. You are all so very much appreciated.
Visitation will be at Horne Funeral Home in Christiansburg Thursday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. The service will begin at 2:30 p.m. with Elder Raymond Goad officiating.
