Patricia Hollingsworth Holshouser

Patricia Ann Hollingsworth Holshouser (October 29, 1939 – December 6, 2006) was an American nurse and civic leader who, as the wife of Governor James Holshouser, served as First Lady of North Carolina from 1973 to 1977. At the time of her husband's election, she was the youngest woman to serve as the state's first lady. She was the North Carolina's first Republican first lady since Sarah Amanda Sanders Russell in 1901. Holshouser was appointed to the National Council on Economic Opportunity by U.S. president Gerald Ford and headed the state's Commission on Citizen Participation. In preparation for the United States Bicentennial, she hosted a conference for first ladies of Southeastern states at the Governor's Western Residence and the planned celebratory events with Girl Scouts of the USA.

After retiring from public life, Holshouser worked as a registered nurse at Moore Memorial Hospital in Southern Pines, North Carolina, as a hospice and palliative care nurse at Sandhills Hospice, and as a patient care coordinator for hospice in Scotland County, North Carolina.

Early life and education Holshouser was born Patricia Ann Hollingsworth on October 29, 1939, in Asheville, North Carolina. She had an identical twin sister, Nancy, and another sister, Linda.

In 1972, her husband was elected as the governor of North Carolina, succeeding Robert W. Scott. He officially took office on January 5, 1973. The Holshousers were the first Republicans to serve as governor and first lady since Daniel Lindsay Russell and Sarah Amanda Sanders Russell in 1901. At thirty-three years of age, she was North Carolina's youngest first lady.

On September 27, 1963, she gave birth to their daughter, Virginia Walker Holshouser. Upon moving into the North Carolina Executive Mansion in 1973, Holshouser wanted to ensure that her daughter received a normal upbringing, teaching her how to sew, cook, and make ceramic art.

After leaving public life, Holshouser and her husband moved to Southern Pines. They attended the wedding of their daughter and John Edward Mills Jr. in 1989.

She died on December 6, 2006, in Southern Pines.