Dr. Holt known as music minister in charismatic groups

Published: January 22, 2020

Dr. Dennis Fagan Holt, a longtime dentist in Pocahontas who was active in the charismatic community providing praise and worship music, died Jan. 9. He was 69.

He was born Aug. 28, 1950, to Daly Bransford Holt and Letha Ellen Fagan Holt in Walnut Ridge. He graduated from dental school at the University of Tennessee in Memphis and served two years in the U.S. Navy. He retired in 2016, after 43 years as a dentist in Pocahontas. A member of St. Paul Church in Pocahontas, Holt wrote several books and recorded gospel albums, according to his funeral home obituary.

He and his wife Janet Baltz Holt attended the annual Arkansas Charismatic Conference since the mid-1990s, telling Arkansas Catholic in 2015, “My relationship with my heavenly Father is the most exciting part of my life. At the conference I get to express my excitement with 500 other Catholics who are not afraid to show their love and reverence for Jesus Christ. The Lord says to let the shout of victory be in the camp. At the conference we have victory and that atmosphere is life changing.”

Other survivors include three sons, Dr. Brent Holt, Mark Holt and Luke Holt, all of Pocahontas; one daughter, Denise Dawson of Pocahontas; his mother, Letha Ellen Fagan Holt of Pocahontas; one brother, Dr. Danny Holt of Pocahontas; and 10 grandchildren.

A visitation and prayer service was held Jan. 13 and a Mass of Christian burial Jan. 14 at St. Paul Church.

Donations can be made to Bridge of Hope, P.O. Box 821, Pocahontas, AR 72455 or the St. Paul’s Building Fund, 1002 Convent Street, Pocahontas, AR 72455.