Gina Lee Gilbreath Holdar

Gina Lee Gilbreath Holdar, 55, of Sigtuna, Sweden died peacefully on December 12, 2023, with her husband Sven by her side. Gina fought a lengthy battle with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a neurological disease. She was born October 12, 1968, to Margaret and Earl Gilbreath. Gina is survived by her devoted husband, Sven Holdar; her sons Leif and Torsten Holdar; parents, Earl and Margaret Gilbreath; sister Karen Clarkson (Allen); nephew Kyle Clarkson (Jennifer); niece Ashlan Clarkson (Morgan). Upon graduation from Gordon Lee High School in Chickamauga, Ga in 1986, she continued her education at the University of Georgia where she received her Ph.D. in sociology in 1994. She joined the Civic Education Project that year and moved to Yekaterinburg, Russia where she taught sociology at the Urals State University. She later also taught one year at the Nizhny Novgorod State University in Russia before taking up a position as sociology professor at Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was in Yekaterinburg that she met her husband Sven.They always felt they were meant to be together, they stood by each other in thick and thin and were each other’s best friends. Gina and Sven got married in Chickamauga in 1998. Gina lived an extraordinary life living in, and traveling to,many countries. She and Sven lived and worked for five years in Kyiv, Ukraine, four years in the Republic of Georgia and four years in Armenia and travelled in Europe, to Africa and Asia. When it was time for their boys Leif (born in 2004) and Torsten (2006) to start school they moved to Sweden in 2010. Here, based on Gina’s interest in design and clothes, they started a business selling American vintage clothes in Stockholm and importing American glass and enamel which they wholesaled to Scandinavia and Europe. Gina was bright, beautiful and determined even at the end of her life. She was able to cross cultural barriers and her positive and cheerful personality made her many close friends from all walks of life and all over the world who loved her fun nature. She will be deeply missed by her family who loves her dearly. She was the best wife, mother, daughter and sister to us all. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday the 20th of January, with visitation at 1 pm at the Wilson Funeral Home, Chickamauga Chapel, 215 Lee Avenue withensuing memorial service at 2 pm. A reception will then immediately follow at Droop Scoops, 120 Gordon Street in Chickamauga. The family asks that guests wear a favorite piece of clothing or color to celebrate Gina. Donations in memory of Gina can be given to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at michaeljfox.org .

Gina Lee Gilbreath Holdar

October 12, 1968 - December 12, 2023