Frankie Holmes

Frankie Louis Holmes was born on June 14, 1935 to the late Rosadell and Hurbert Holmes in Smithfield, North Carolina. He attended Oakey Grove Missionary Baptist Church in his childhood. He relocated to New York City in 1953, where he worked for the New York Telephone Company. Afterwards he made his home in Victoria, Virginia. He was a very handy man and worked several jobs as he was certified in HVAC and refrigeration repairs. In addition, he also worked for the Virginia Lottery Commission. Virginia remained his home for over thirty years until his health began to decline.
Frankie had an entrepreneurial spirit and always had a business plan. Whether it was selling peanuts, planting vegetables, breeding rabbits, raising chickens or farming goats, Frankie wasn't afraid to try and start over.
Frankie loved his black people and dreamed of unity not only for his race but for his family. He wanted a village where he was the chief. He was definitely the chief and anyone who disagreed would receive a tongue lashing no matter the person, time, place or circumstance. Because of his love of black people, while in Victoria, Frankie was on the Board of Directors for the People's Community Center.
As a child Frankie attended Oakey Grove Baptist Church. While he was not a member, he was affiliated with Pleasant Oak Missionary Baptist Church where Rev James L. Green is the pastor.
Frankie made his transition peacefully on November 6, 2018. Frankie was preceded in death by two brothers, James (Buddy) Holmes and Bobby Ray Holmes as well as a son, Dennis Louis Holmes and his cousin and best friend, Melvin Hooks. Melvin and Frankie were a few of the last Ed Davis' Boys.
He leaves to mourn and cherish his memories one sister, Barbara Vinson, three children Beverly Wallace, Karen Rawlings and Frankie (Jay) L. Holmes Jr.; Three stepsons William (Renny) Credle, Robert Cannon and Maurice Porter; seven grandchildren William (Lonnie), Yolanda, Ajaiyah, Azaan, Jasmine, Jayquan and Saran; two and a half great grandchildren, Jaylen, Andre (A.J. Tickle) and soon to be born Baby Girl A. He also leaves behind A beloved cousin, Helen Peggy Barnes, the last of his aunts, Lovie Mae Sanders; as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, in- laws, step-grandchildren and his other best friend in the whole wide world, as he once said, his dog, Happy.