MS SOUTH CAROLINA SENIOR AMERICA 2015,
REBECCA "BECKY" ROSE-HOLLEY

CONGRATULATIONS to REBECCA "BECKY" ROSE-HOLLEY, Ms South Carolina Senior America 2015, and Special Thanks to Connie Karl and Elizabeth Garrison for a wonderful State Queen!

Rebecca “Becky” Rose-Holley is fortunate to live at beautiful Edisto Beach, South Carolina. Wife, sister, mother, grandmother, horse trainer, ICU nurse, birth-defect survivor, model, and church and community volunteer are just a few words that define her. She has overcome enormous odds from birth, having been born with a severe cleft palate. Today, after years of surgeries and therapies, she lives a full and joyous life.

Because Becky had such difficulties with her speech as a child, she talked little and read obsessively, mostly about horses. Her speaking voice sounded different from those of other children and ridicule came easily to the little ones. Miraculously, she found her singing voice and, boy, did she sing! The therapists gave her speaking exercises and she completed every one; except, she sang them! Becky has continued her love of singing throughout her adult life and is often showcased by her church choir and in local productions.

She represents Shriner's Hospital, Greenville SC, as a spokesperson for a continuum of care as a Shriner's Kid from 6 minutes – 66-years-old and has adopted its bullying program, “Cut the Bull,” as her designed Ms Senior America platform.

Her SC Senior America sisters adore her. Queen Laura McFayden '12 says that she “inspires us” and repeatedly exclaims, “She is just so darn cute, too!”

It goes without saying that Becky endured harassment and discrimination as a result of her impairment. She believes, “You have to remember that the hard days are what make you stronger. They make you realize what a good day is. And, if you never had any bad days, you would never have that sense of accomplishment!” As a first-hand recipient of bullying, Becky campaigns daily in her life and through her interactions with others to help them understand the harmful results of such acts. Her goal is to start conversations and to creatively engage people to build their understanding of how to prevent bullying. She hopes that her platform through the Ms Senior America organization will showcase these efforts.

Becky considers herself fortunate to have been involved in many other volunteer opportunities. She was a national-level horse trainer and coach for both 4-H Horse Club and special needs equestrian therapy. Becky spent ten years as a loggerhead sea turtle volunteer, which includes pre-dawn beach searches for freshly laid nests and late-night “nest watching” as the silver-dollar-sized hatchlings emerge and make their trek to the ocean.

Becky is married to the love of her life, James A. Holley, and is a proud mother of three sons and one daughter. She became the first-time grandmother of Evan Josaia in March 2015, the crowning glory to her now perfect life at the beach and her participation in Senior America at the “Age of Elegance!”