Barren Belmont Holmes, 66, of Tappahannock, passed away on February 18, 2020.
He was born on December 18, 1953 in Tappahannock to the late Alice Lorene and Samuel Holmes. He was the seventh of 12 children.
Mr. Holmes was baptized at an early age at New Liberty Baptist Church. He received his early education in the Essex County Public School System and graduated in 1972. After graduating from Essex High School, he attended St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville and received a BS in elementary education. After college, he joined the Marine Corps, played basketball, and was stationed at H&I Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., until 1984.
Mr. Holmes taught math in Middlesex, Essex, and King and Queen counties. He also coached in the three counties, and was a coach in the Middlesex Youth Basketball League for several years.
In 2012 he retired from teaching after 30 years and began working at the Virginia Army National Guard in West Point.
He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Sam Frederick and Sam Jr.; and sister, Rita.
He is survived by his wife, Deborah Walker Pitts Holmes; his daughter, Lenora Pitts Bundy; three sisters, Carol Wallace of Tappahannock, Ivory Barnes of Fredericksburg, and Barbara B. McNeely of Tappahannock; five brothers, Edward of New Jersey, Thomas of Georgia, and Tony, Gill, and Arnie of Tappahannock; and many other family members and friends.
Funeral services were held Sunday, February 23, at Essex County High School in Tappahannock. Interment was in St. John Baptist Church Cemetery, Tappahannock.
