Sharyn Smith Holley

Golden Honoree Sharyn Smith Holley is overjoyed to follow the path of her mother, ‘Ivy Beyond the Wall’ Golden Member Fairilla Smith, who joined our organization in 1944. Mrs. Holley was initiated into Epsilon Mu Chapter in Fall 1973. She was an integral part of “23 Innervisions” and is a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. She has been a continuously active member since her induction in 1973.

Mrs. Holley was born in Hope, Arkansas to Hezekiah and Fairilla Smith. She is the middle child, and only girl, of four children. She graduated from Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas, and acquired an Associate of Arts Degree, Summa Cum Laude, from Texarkana Junior College. She matriculated at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and a master’s in Education. She has also acquired several certifications in Leadership Development.

Mrs. Holley taught school in the Denton Independent School District and served as an Adjunct Professor for Tarrant County Junior College. She began a lengthy career at American Airlines in 1978 and held a multitude of operational and corporate roles while located in New York City and later in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. After 31 years with American, Mrs. Holley retired as Managing Director. Currently, she is a Partner in her family-owned business, having used her talents with a variety of clients such as DISD, Envoy and American Airlines, BNSF Railway, and the Black Women Non-Profit Leadership organization.

In 1986, she became a member of Omicron Mu Omega Chapter, having served as Member-at-Large and Chairman of the Nominating, Protocol, and Community Impact Committees. She has worked on additional committees including Finance, Leadership Development, Cachet Youth Group, and Founders’ Day. Mrs. Holley is a former member of Beta Mu Omega Chapter in Fort Worth and Alpha Xi Omega chapter in Dallas. Before relocating from Denton, she served as the first Graduate Advisor for undergraduate chapter, Kappa Nu, at Texas Women’s University.

Her community outreach includes being a charter member and past president of Trinity (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated in Dallas, Texas. She helped the chapter excel to the forefront of the S.T.E.M. movement for underrepresented young girls. She also served The Links, Incorporated on a regional level as the Western Area Chairman of the inaugural Alumna and Platinum Affairs Committee. She holds life membership in the NAACP and UNT Alumni Association and has volunteered many years with Irving’s Teen Court and is a member of Hamilton Park UMC.

For 38 years, she has been married to Glenn Webster Alexander Holley. They have one daughter, Alex Holley, her Legacy. Alex is a third-generation member of the sorority and is active with Omega Omega Chapter in Philadelphia, PA.

A village of family, friends and ‘sisters’ help Mrs. Holley celebrate this momentous milestone, including her BFF and Line Sister, fellow Golden Honoree, Sharon Kyles Ross and Goddaughter Stephanie Ross Gaston, both members of Omicron Mu Omega Chapter.