Thomas Sylvester Holmes

Thomas Sylvester Holmes was born August 14, 1933, in Salisbury, North Carolina. He attended school in Rowan County and graduated from Dunbar High School. After high school he attended NC A&T and was a part of their ROTC program. Thomas entered the United States Army and served in the 82nd Airborne, after this tour he received an honorable discharge. He moved to Columbus, Ohio and began working for Belmont Caskey Company, where he retired after many years of service. In addition, he retired from Columbus City School. He would not stay retired, Thomas enjoyed serving others and was employed by McNabb Funeral Home and later Diehl-Whittaker where he worked until 2020. Thomas enjoyed traveling, listening to music and dancing. He is preceded in death by parents, Sylvester and Grace Holmes, and brother, William Holmes. He entered into peaceful rest on Saturday, May 1, 2021, surrounded by family. Thomas Holmes lived a life that could never die, but will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew and loved him. Thomas leaves to cherish his memories children; Reginald (Janet) Heilig of Salisbury, NC, Thomas A. (Ramona) Holmes, Karman Wright, Sylvester Wright, Tamara Mapp and Timothy (Faye) Mapp, those he loved as his own; Jim (Diana) Twitty and Ron (JoEllen) Mapp, brother; Lemuel L. (Gail) Holmes of Greensboro, NC, companion of 57 years; Mae F. Mapp, brother-in-law; George Swann, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.