Alex Justin Holtsclaw

Published 1:55 pm Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Alex Justin Holtsclaw, age 54, of Elizabethton, passed away on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at his residence. Alex was born in Staunton, Virginia, to the late David Charles Holtsclaw and to Patricia Cochran Holtsclaw.

Alex graduated from Elizabethton High School in 1990. In his time at Elizabethton, he ran track and played football. He was selected for the All-Conference Team as well as being named to the All-Tough Guys Team. He won his first and only boxing match for the Golden Gloves Tournament.

Alex was a 1994 graduate of Wofford College with a degree in psychology. He attended on athletic, music and academic scholarships and lettered in football.

Alex was a member of First Christian Church of Elizabethton and also attended Valley Forge Christian Church. Alex was a visionary and a truly gifted singer and songwriter. He was able to professionally record his last album of original songs in Nashville. He had the privilege of performing his patriotic song “No Turning Back” at the Pepsi Fireworks Show, where he received a standing ovation. He also performed his song in Los Angeles, Calif., at the National Veteran Administration Conference and Convention. He loved the outdoors, playing with his dogs and studying his Bible. Alex also enjoyed traveling, especially his extended time in Australia. Upon his return, he joined his father managing their hemlock nursery and the family farm while continuing to pursue his musical passion. He loved his family and excelled at being “Uncle A.”

Those left to honor and cherish the memory of Alex Holtsclaw include his mother, Patricia Holtsclaw, of Elizabethton; brother, Dr. John David Holtsclaw (Suzanne), of Trappe, Md.; sister, Stacie Waugh (Darrell), of Elizabethton; four nieces: Sydney Waugh, of Greenville, S.C., Rachael Holtsclaw, of Vienna, Va., Jessica Holtsclaw, of Arlington, Va., Olivia Holtsclaw, of Madrid, Spain; three uncles, Larry Cochran (Terri), of Lake Butler, Fla., Raymond Holtsclaw (Johnnie), of Elizabethton, and Ken Holtsclaw, of Jonesborough, Tenn.; cousins: Emily Orsburn (Wade), of Elizabethton, Matt Holtsclaw (Raven), of Elizabethton, Rachael White Clement (Tom), of Johnson City, Keith Holtsclaw (Angie), of Elizabethton, Kelly Holtsclaw, of Johnson City, Keri Miller (Mark), of Elizabethton, Kim Holtsclaw, of Jonesborough, Brooks Cochran (Ashley), of Elizabethton, Ashley Hartley (Phillip), of Elizabethton, Matthew Cochran, of Lake Butler, Fla., Shannon Welch (Riley), of Hinesville, Ga., Amber Cochran, of Gainesville, Fla.; aunt, Deb Cochran, of Elizabethton; great-aunt, Barbara Knoll, of Bristol, Tenn.

A service to honor and celebrate the life of Alex will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17, 2025, in the Chapel of Peace of Tetrick Funeral Home – Elizabethton with Mr. Michael Klaus, minister, officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, prior to the service on Thursday.

The committal service and interment will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, April 18, 2025, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Dr. John Holtsclaw, Darrell Waugh, Keith Holtsclaw, Raymond Holtsclaw, Ken Holtsclaw, Matt Holtsclaw, Larry Cochran, Chambers Easterling and Willie Setzer. Honorary pallbearers will be Wade Orsburn, Josh Smith, Richard Vanhuss, Richard Dugger, Bobby Fetzer and Dakota Setzer. Those wishing to be a part of this service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home – Elizabethton no later than 10:15 a.m. Friday to travel in procession to the cemetery.

Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers are asked to make donations to First Christian Church of Elizabethton at 513 Hattie Ave., Elizabethton, TN 37643, or to the Carter County Animal Shelter at 135 Sycamore Shoals Dr., Elizabethton, TN 37643.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family by visiting our website at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton is honored to serve the Holtsclaw family. Office phone: (423) 542-2232.