Clara Campbell Holmes

Clara Campbell Holmes passed away at the age of 101 at her home in Baton Rouge. She was born on March 9, 1912 at the Baptist parsonage in New Edinburgh, Arkansas the second of 5 surviving children of Jenny Hunter and Duncan Campbell. After graduating from high school at age 17, Clara traveled to Dunlap, Tennessee, where she taught in an orphanage. She then returned to Arkansas to attend college at the Arkansas A&M College, one of many “land grant” colleges founded after the civil war. Clara and her siblings all achieved advanced educations, even though their parents were not educated past high school. While at A&M she met Chester Holmes in 1930. Chester was the oldest son of Lily and Bedford Forrest Holmes. Clara and Chester hit it off well after meeting in college, and they were married on Thanksgiving Day in 1932. The wedding took place in her parent’s house in New Edinburgh. They settled in a town called Moro, Arkansas, where they taught in the school system. Together they decided to attend LSU in Baton Rouge to receive their master’s degrees in History and Chemistry. They stayed in Baton Rouge, and purchased the lot on Cypress Street in 1940 where they raised their two children. Their son Curtis was born in 1943, and their daughter Linda was born in 1945. Chester and Clara became active members of the First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge in 1940 and served the church for many years. They both taught Sunday School for years, and Chester was a Deacon in the church for decades. They contributed both service and financial support their entire lives in Baton Rouge. Clara was preceded in death by her parents, Jenny Hunter and Duncan Campbell; husband, Frank Chester Holmes; daughter, Linda Tumlinson; and siblings, Helen Ellis, Louise Ferguson and Leonard Campbell. She is survived by her son, Curtis Frank Holmes and wife Carolyn; grandchildren, Kelly Head and husband Mark, Kip Wright and wife Pam, and Christopher Holmes and wife Dr. Marilyn Augustine; great grandchildren, Amanda Wright and Joseph Holmes; sister, Jean Frisby; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to give special thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of Canon Hospice, and to her longtime caregivers at Personal Home Care, Dottie and Carolyn. Visitation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home 7-9 pm, Wednesday, August 21, 2013 and will continue at the funeral home the following day beginning at 11am until the funeral service begins at 12pm. Interment will follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Canon Hospice, 1761 Physicians Park Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Online condolences may be placed at www.greenoaksfunerals.com.