Charles Kendrick-Holmes

He was born in Columbus in 1944 to Thomas Clarence Kendrick Jr. and Martha Dimon Kendrick, moving to Zebulon, Ga., after the death of his father. Charles studied pharmacy at the University of Georgia, married Barbara Bowers, served as an officer in the Army Medical Service Corps, and worked as a pharmacist in LaGrange.

In 1972, after committing his life to Jesus Christ, Charles moved his family to Portland, Ore., for one year, where he learned to study the Scriptures at Multnomah School of the Bible. They then moved to LaFayette, Ala., where Charles and Barbara established Marannook, a Christian camp and Bible training center, on 200 acres of land that Barbara had inherited from her parents.

Charles was known for his physical presence and vibrant personality, and his crazy stunts, including rappelling out of the Manna Hall skylight and water skiing behind a pickup truck while carrying a spear, are stuff of legend. He loved studying God’s Word and sharing what he learned with people of all ages using skits, stories, “The Doowackadoo Song” and, yes, raps, which became a staple of family nights at Marannook.

When he struck upon something important, he liked to chant it over and over again until nobody could forget it. One of those sayings was this: “Strength and comfort from the gospel come not as a result of works but what Christ has done.”

He wasn’t afraid to tell people hard things they needed to hear, but he was surprisingly kind and quick to show grace and give people a second chance.

More than 50 years later and thousands of campers and staff later, Marannook is still going strong and spreading the gospel, a testament to the faith of Charles and Barbara.

Charles and Barbara retired from Marannook in 2019 and a year later moved to Spring Harbor. He fought Parkinson’s Disease hard, running wind sprints, doing calisthenics and working out with trainers for as long as he could. He had many close friends who visited him regularly, including Terry Andrus, Rob Howe, Billy Whitley and Randy Wilson, along with his secret donut agent, Darcy Leerssen.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather Shi Gray Holmes, and his brother Thomas Clarence Holmes III.

Charles is survived by his wife Barbara Bowers Kendrick-Holmes; three children, Charles Estes Dimon Kendrick-Holmes Jr. (Bess) of Greensboro, N.C., Clayton Bowers Kendrick-Holmes (Johanna) of Rye, N.Y., and Lelia Kendrick-Holmes Jones (Wayne) of Savannah, Ga.; and nine grandchildren, Cary Kendrick-Holmes Draper (Cal), Robert Kendrick-Holmes (Emily), Bo Kendrick-Holmes (Holland), Will Kendrick-Holmes, Wills Kendrick-Holmes, Joe Kendrick-Holmes, Joshua Jones, Jonathan Jones and Hannah Jones.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, September 28,2024 at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 4980 Hancock Road, Columbus, Ga. A visitation will be held at the church from 1:00PM-3:00PM Friday, September 27,2024. A private graveside service will be held at LaFayette City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Camp Marannook at www.marannook.org/give-to-camp/.