Herbert Holmes

Herbert Reed Holmes, 91 years old, died Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at his daughter’s home in Columbus, MS. Graveside services, with military honors, will be held in Augusta Memorial Park, Augusta, AR on Friday, July 17, 2015 at 2:30 PM with Dr. Bobby Douglas officiating. Wells Funeral Home in charge. The son of the late Reed L. and Elizabeth White Holmes, Mr. Holmes was born January 6, 1924 in Judsonia, AR. Following graduation from Judsonia High School, he attended and graduated from the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science, Nashville, TN. In 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a Pharmacist’s mate on the USS Effingham, a medical ship in the Pacific, from 1944-1946 and was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946. After the war, he returned to Arkansas and established the Herbert Holmes Funeral Home in Augusta, AR, where he met and married his wife of 65 years, the late Virginia Brookes Holmes. He maintained his Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licenses in AR and TN for over 50 years, and he added a MS License in 1970. He was a past president of the AR Funeral Directors Association and received the Funeral Directors Association’s Director of the year in 1955 and 1965. He became owner and general manager of Caruth Funeral Home in Hot Springs, AR in 1959 until 1970 when he became a co-owner/ partner and general manager of Gunter & Holmes Funeral Home in Columbus, MS in 1971. He retired in August, 1986 and moved back to Hot Springs, where he worked part-time at Gross Funeral Home. In 2003, health issues brought him and Virginia back to Columbus to live with their daughter and her family. He was a former member of the Navy League and the Salvation Army Board of Directors, the Garland County Council on Aging and a former member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Hot Springs, AR. and a former member of the Kiwanis Club of Columbus. He was also a life member of the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #380. He was also a member and deacon of First Baptist Church in Hot Springs and a member of First Baptist Church in Columbus. Herbert did not have any hobbies, but he was a rabid Arkansas Razorbacks fan. Like most Arkansans by birth, he was always quick to “Call the Hogs” while he lived in Mississippi or when he spotted a car, a cap or piece of clothing that reminded him of his home team. Herbert loved his profession. His greatest joy in life was serving people when they were most in need of his professional advice. He practiced his work ethic every day. Herbert mentored many men who worked for him and through the years, many of whom went on to establish their own businesses. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Irma Toms and his wife Virginia Brooks Holmes. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Beverly and Floyd McIntyre, his sister Marjorie Martin of Searcy, AR, his granddaughter Maggie Virginia McIntyre, his great-granddaughter Anna Kinsley Cline, his niece and her husband Janyth and Dr. Ronald Baker of Searcy, AR, and two great nephews and one great niece. Memorials may be made to the Pipe Organ Fund, Annunciation Catholic Church, 823 College St., Columbus, MS 39701 or to the donor’s favorite charity.