Mary Louise Holmes

Mary Louise Holmes, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, left this world on December 11, 2014 at Grace Care Center Northpointe, Tomball, Texas . She was born on January 11, 1920 in Pratt City, Alabama, the youngest daughter of Edgar and Amanda Roberts. Her parents and her older sister precede her in death.

Mary and her sister Margaret, her only sibling, were born during the Great Depression and for most of their childhood were raised by their maternal widowed grandmother, Mary McGregor (now deceased) in a three-room wooden house where her grandmother raised chickens and meticulously kept a garden to feed the family. As a child, Mary played the piano, and she and her sister sang duets at church events.

She attended DuSable High School in Chicago, Illinois where she lived with her father and stepmother, until graduation in 1937. She loved chemistry and aspired to be a chemist. When she graduated Salutatorian of her class, she earned admissions and a scholarship to attend Spellman College. But her family could not afford to send her. So she returned to Pratt City, Alabama, to live with her mother and stepfather, Carl Jones and enrolled in business college to sharpen her office skills.

Her life-long friends from high school were Rachel Carter and Edith Taylor. Rachel introduced her to the Catholic faith. Mary converted to Catholicism while in Chicago and was a devout catholic for the rest of her life.

She met and fell in love with, Jeffery Holmes, and they married at Holy Family Catholic Church in Birmingham, Alabama on December 22, 1939. Jeffery joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, and three years after the birth of their only child, Antoinette, they joined the Great Migration to the West to live in Los Angeles, CA. Mary was employed by Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Co. She moved up its ranks and after twenty-seven years, retired as a Mortgage Loan Supervisor.

After her retirement in 1972, she continued to be a very involved grandmother to Delvon and Gina Davis Carroll. She also enjoyed the Altar Society at St. Albert the Great Church; was actively involved in the local Community Center where she joined sewing and exercise classes. She also enjoyed cruises with her husband, Jeffrey.

She was empathetic, a good listener and quick to offer prayers, comfort and support to family and to her many friends. She was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party and never missed an opportunity to exercise her right to vote. She also enjoyed watching sports, especially baseball (the Dodgers) and basketball (the Lakers), and of course, the Soaps.

After the death of her husband, in 1980, she continued to live at home with her loyal Black Labrador,” Blackie.” She kept up with hobbies, adding travel to Europe and Africa with a senior group.

She moved to Rancho Palos Verdes, CA with her daughter in 1998, and in 2003, they relocated to Houston, Texas, where she joined Prince of Peace Church and was able to enjoy very close relationships with her great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her son-in-law and daughter, Napoleon and Antoinette Davis (Toni), her grandchildren, Delvon Davis and Gina Davis Carroll; her great-grandchildren, Anaka Davis, Jeffrey Davis, and Matthew Rodgers, Jonathan Carroll, Jillian Carroll, Jennifer Carroll, Jessica Carroll, Jackson Carroll; her daughters –in-law, April Davis and Julie Cuzick; and many loving family and friends.

Her memorial will be held at Prince of Peace Church, Mary Chapel on December 27, 2014 at 11 am. Her ashes will be taken to California to be the joined with the ashes of her beloved husband. Interment at Sea will be January 17, 2014, 10 a.m.Neptune II, Berth #77Ports of Call Village,1200 Nagoya Way,San Pedro, CA 90731. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Alzheimer's Association, alz.org.