Chieko Mitsui was born in Saku-ahi, Japan on September 12, 1935, to Yune Kakizawa and Sadakichi Mitsui.  In 1944 her family moved to Nagano-shi where would meet her future husband Jacob Holbert of Staunton, Virginia who was serving in the US Army in Japan.  They married and after the birth of their first child, Rita, they moved to the United States where they would welcome their second child, John.  She cared for her family at different posts to include Ft. Campbell, KY, Ft. Lewis, WA, Ft. Dix, NJ, and eventually Ft. Bragg, NC.  She would later open the first Japanese teppan steakhouse, The Matsu Restaurant, in Fayetteville in 1973.

She continued to care for her family by helping her daughter and son in law raise their three children when her daughter returned to school.  Her passion for helping others continued as she often prepared meals for the Japanese community events in Fayetteville.  Her hobbies of cooking, sewing, gardening, and fishing filled her time when she was not caring for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Her life ended too soon on December 24, 2022, at home surrounded by her family after a valiant  yearlong battle with lung cancer.  She is survived by a daughter Rita Holbert Cox and husband Orval; son, John Holbert; 4 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, sister-in-law Mary Ham; nephew Terris Ham.  She was the eldest of 5 children, and she's survived by 4 siblings in Japan, her brothers Shinitirou Mitsui and wife Satchiko; Masao Mitsui, and her sisters Yaeko and husband Shuhei Nishizawa; Youko and husband Tetsuya Mizukami, she also has 6 nephews and nieces in Japan.

Her family in Japan is awaiting her final homecoming.  Chieko will be escorted back to Japan later this year by her family and will be laid to rest on her homeland.

A Gathering of friends and family will be held  on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 from 2-4:00 PM at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be sent to www.jerniganwarren.com

Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, NC 28301.