Joyce Agnes Holmes (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Joyce Agnes Holmes was born in Wanganui, New Zealand on September 9, 1933, to Alan and Ada Trail. She was the middle of five children. She married Bernard Holmes on June 2, 1956. They immigrated to the United States in 1959 and became naturalized citizens in 1982. They shared 52 years together.
Joyce served alongside her husband Bernard in local church ministry in New Zealand, California, Texas, and South Carolina. She worked as a bookkeeper to help support their family. She loved to bake and cook. She is fondly remembered by many college students for providing breakfasts on Friday mornings for Bernard’s discipleship groups.
She was a long-time resident of Bolivar. She was a talented seamstress often creating custom wedding dresses and alteration services. She was a member of Wellspring Baptist Fellowship and enjoyed serving in the preschool area rocking babies and caring for preschoolers. She accompanied Bernard on international trips ministering in Korea, Russia, India, and South and Central America. She moved from Bolivar in 2014 to live closer to family in Nashville, TN, and then Rome, GA. She died on December 28, 2024, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s.
She is preceded in death by parents, Alan and Ada Trail; husband, Dr. Bernard Holmes; firstborn child, Grady; brother, Jack Trail; and sister, Nola Trail Rambo.
Joyce is survived by daughters Bronwyn Blount (Phil), and Sondra Turner (Paul), grandchildren Ben Blount, Sam Blount (Ashton), Katie Blount Hunt (Josh), Shelbi Turner Ellison (Mark), Morgan Turner Sloan (Wilson), and four great-grandchildren, Olive and Eden Blount, and Josiah and McKenzie Ellison. She is also survived by two sisters, Rose Drown and Betty Falconer (Graham).
A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 4, 2024, at Wellspring Baptist Fellowship in Bolivar.
Receiving of family and friends will take place prior to the celebration of life, beginning at 1:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Wellspring Baptist Fellowship’s Mission Ministries or your local hospice agency.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Joyce Agnes Holmes please visit our Sympathy Store.
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