Zelda Holley was born at St. Paul Hospital in Dallas, Texas, on May 8, 1964, the youngest child of Ezell and Lorene Holley. She graduated from Hillcrest High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Woman's University (TWU).

Zelda's major at TWU was Oil Painting, and her minor was fashion design. While studying in college, she was recognized as a Delta Phi Delta Honor Society member.

Painting was Zelda's primary interest. Her artwork featured aggressive use of bold colors, precise lines, and boundaries when painting portraits of family members and others. She communicated feelings through her work, painting emotions she felt at any given time. Her art was an extension of her very being. A talented and obsessed perfectionist, Zelda's paintings came from places deep inside her. Her active participation in the art world led to extensive experience in oil painting, watercolors, acrylic, and art history. She even designed dresses that she sewed into reality.

Eventually, Zelda's love of art led her to teach at multiple Dallas Independent School District schools. Later, Zelda left the education field to create and perfect her paintings; she loved spreading art appreciation through painting faces of children at carnivals and personally teaching art and drawing classes at Michael's. Life as an artist wasn't easy; however, she forged forward with creative sketches and personalized hand-painted Christmas cards until her health began to fail ten years before her death from Uterine Cancer on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.

Zelda leaves to cherish her life, a doting father, Ezell Holley, a constant caregiver to his only daughter during her prolonged illness; a brother and sister-in-law, Glenn and Sharyn Holley, and a niece, Alex Holley, who was a kindred spirit in their love of movies. Zelda's family, friends, and associates of the art world will truly miss her infectious smile, her friendly greetings whenever she saw them, and her engaging conversations about her favorite subjects: classic movies, music, celebrities, and art.

May this artist forever rest in peace and power!