Rev. George Blake Holmes Sr.

The Reverend George Blake Holmes, Sr. of Browns Summit, North Carolina, died on Thursday morning, May 31, 2012 in Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, NC at the age of 93. He was the son of the late Rosa Warrington Hodges and George Frederick Holmes.

He is survived by his wife, Rachael Brugh Holmes; two sons, George Blake Holmes, Jr. of Edenton and John Frederick Holmes of Wingate, NC; six daughters, Rosemary Holmes Niles of Winston-Salem, NC; Jane Douglas Hearn of Bluffton, SC; Rachael Brugh Holmes, Jr. of Charlottesville, VA; Katherine Holmes Moody of Satellite Beach, FL Emilie Holmes Covil of Coral Springs, FL; Rebecca Hodges Holmes Leopard of Durham, NC; eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and three step-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by daughter Shirlee Holmes Garratt. He is survived by one sister, Jane Amnott of Bedford, VA.

He was a native of Norfolk, Virginia where he spent his youth and graduated from Matthew Fontaine Maury High School and attended Old Dominion University. He received an AB degree at The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia and a Master’s degree in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia. He graduated from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary with a LTh while attending Northwestern University as a graduate student.

During his active ministry of over fifty years he served Episcopal parishes primarily in Illinois, Wisconsin, Virginia and North Carolina. For eight years he was a non-stipendiary clergyman while Director of Administrative Services with Moore-Gardner & Associates with headquarters in Asheboro, NC. He was continually committed to his interest in emotionally disturbed children and in both physical and mental health fields, assisting in the establishment of the first mental health clinics in North Carolina.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Pacific, North Atlantic and European theaters in both the United States Naval Reserve and the United States Army Air Force.

A Celebration of his Life will be conducted at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Greensboro, North Carolina at 1:00 PM, Monday, June 4, 2012. Following the service the family will greet friends in the Haywood Duke Room of the Church. Inurnment will be 11:00 AM, Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at Mill Creek Church Cemetery, Fincastle, Virginia.

It was the deceased request that in lieu of memorials, those who knew him continue their personal commitment to God, country, Church family and friends with inner peace with themselves and harmony with others.

Online condolences may be sent through www.haneslineberryfuneralhomes.com.