Earl Clinton Holmes

Earl Holmes went home to be with our LORD on Thursday April 18, 2024.

He was born February 17,1951 to and preceded in death by Lillie Mae Epps Hall, and Elmer Cashwell Holmes in Washington D.C. Earl was parented by Lillie Mae Epps Hall, his mother, and William A. Hall – his stepfather.  Earl attended Polytechnic High school, an all male high school.  Earl successfully graduated from John Hopkins University where he obtained two bachelor degrees.

Earl worked a summer job at Westinghouse Electric Corporation during his time at John Hopkins and was hired as a full time employee after graduation.  Earl worked in various capacities including sales, customer service, management, and Information Technology (IT). Earl had numerous job related travel opportunities both domestically and internationally including Puerto Rico, China, Mexico,and Australia. Earl had a great sense of humor and would often say, I graduated from college, started a new job, got married and bought a new car, all in the same month," June of 1973".  Mr. Holmes remained with Westinghouse through their company transitions to Eaton Corporation until he retired in 2019.

Earl attended Faith Baptist Church with his family in Baltimore, Maryland which was pastored by Dr. Walter  E. Paige. While living in District Heights, Maryland, he attended Grace Temple COGIC pastored by Reverend Stanford L. Butts, prior to Reverend Butts'. Bishop tenure & appointment as Prelate, Maryland Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.  Earl & his family attended different churches while living in Maryland Heights, Missouri.  In Asheville, North Carolina, Earl would visit the Bountiful Harvest Outreach Center pastored by Pastors Terry and Deborah Wilson.

Earl was a Boy Scout and obtained Eagle Scout status.  He was an avid bowler and enjoyed playing cards back in the day.  Earl enjoyed working with wood and doing artwork specifically painting. His mother allowed him to paint a moose on one of the walls in his bedroom while still a teenager. Earl nerded out over trains of all kinds. Later he learned to enjoy gardening, was adventuresome and truly appreciated good food. Earl participated in the Adventure Eating Group and the R.O.M.E.O.S – (Retired Old Men Eating Out).  Mr. Earl LOVED to talk!!! He is described by friends & loved ones as one who did not tolerate incompetence on any level due to an individual not trying, dependable, frugal, respected, resourceful, high energy, compassionate in his own way, a "man's man", intelligent, practical, kind-hearted, observant, fair, very logical, smart and wise, and a quiet storm. Earl Holmes' motto was "seek first to understand".  He was an excellent husband, father and grandfather – GRANDdaddy.' 

Loved ones left to cherish his memory are his wife of fifty years: Idella Holmes; two daughters, Cosette A. Holmes ( Robert Wingate), Dorinda C. Holmes ( Michael T. Parrish); three grandchildren, James W. Wilmer (Charles W. Wilmer), Isabella C. Parrish, Josiah C. Parrish; one niece: Hurraina Chapel Eanes, brother-in-law Jerry Chapel, and a host of cousins and a multitude of friends.

A Memorial Service to honor the life of Earl will be held on Thursday May 23, 2024, at Nazareth First Missionary Baptist Church (146 Pine St.), at 1pm. The service will be live streamed on Avery's Memorial Chapel's Facebook page.

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