William Eric Holloway

William Eric Holloway a/k/a Eryk Datura, age 38 and a native Nashvillian, passed away suddenly on Friday, September 1, 2023, at St. Thomas West in Nashville.  He suffered cardiac arrest after having been very sick for several days, and despite heroic efforts on the part of medical personnel, he did not survive.

Eryk was a man of many talents.  From the time he could hold a crayon, he drew everything he saw or thought of.  He transferred that talent to become a celebrated makeup artist and worked in retail and freelance, concentrating on making his clients feel beautiful and special.  From the outpouring of messages since his death, it is obvious he succeeded.  He was employed as a server in numerous restaurants in Nashville over the past few years and made friends of coworkers and clients in all of them.  He loved people of all kinds.

He had a talent for accepting everyone he met, remembering details about them, always making them feel special and loved, and celebrating their lives.  He probably never thought of that as a “talent” because it was just who he was and it was natural for him.  No one had a more beautiful heart and spirit than Eryk did.

Eryk struggled for years with alcoholism.  Just a week before he passed away, he had made the decision to enter a months-long Life Recovery Program sponsored by the Nashville Rescue Mission.  Unfortunately that never came to pass.

Eryk is survived by his mother, Melissa Herod Smoot, stepfather, Jimmy Smoot, sister, Rachel Holloway, all of Nashville, TN; nephew, Dylan Holloway (Aaliyah), great-nephew, Houston Holloway of Charlotte, TN, as well as numerous cousins, aunts and uncles, and countless friends.  He was predeceased by his father, Michael Holloway of Kingston Springs, TN.

A memorial service for Eryk will be held on September 29, 2023 at The Pavilion at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, 9090 Highway 100, Nashville, TN at 11:00 am, with a Celebration of Life immediately following.  Please come to either or both.  This will be a time to truly celebrate who Eryk was and will provide a place and time to share stories and memories of him with each other.  Please bring a dish to share if you can.  Eryk loved to cook and share recipes, so we will honor him by doing the same.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nashville Rescue Mission – Life Recovery Program (please designate), 639 Lafayette, Nashville, TN, or encourage someone who is struggling with addiction to seek help, and help them find it.

Nashville Cremation Center is honored to be entrusted with handling Eryk's arrangements. Please visit his guestbook to leave a thoughtful note for the family.