PEARL MURRAY HOLMES

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Pearl Murray Holmes was the oldest of seven children born to the late Lewis and Phyllis Reese Murray. She was the widow of Luther Holmes. She departed this life at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, June 1, 2018, at Palmetto Health Baptist.

Pearl was raised in church all of her life and was a member of Wayman Chapel AME Church in Sumter, where she served with the usher's ministry. She graduated from St. Michael High School in Sumter. She continued her education at Girl's College, where she studied nursing attendant by taking evening classes. She received her diploma in 1946.

Ms. Murray was adventurous, was a hard worker and enjoyed cooking. She located to the "Big Apple," and it was there she met the love of her life, Luther Holmes.

Pearl and her three children joined Greater Abyssinian Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, where she was baptized and held many positions in the church. Later, she joined First Baptist Church of Crown Heights in Brooklyn, New York, in 1975. Her tenure there caused her to have a deeper love for God. She became more involved in church as she was the president of the South Carolina Ministry and a member of the missionary board in addition to the pastor's aid club and the gospel choir.

After the illness of her father and stepmother, she moved to Sumter and took care of them, until their deaths. She joined Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church in 1986, serving with the missionary ministry, fellowship choir and the pastor's support ministry. Pearl was a true Christian, a child of God, a devoted and loyal mother, grandmother, and a true friend to all she encountered. Anyone that met or knew her took her as their mother. She was Mother Holmes to some and the majority affectionately called her "mommy" and her grandsons called her "chicken bone." She encouraged others to pray and put it all in God's hands and leave it there. When you were hungry, she always cooked a large selection of food to feed many. She took care of her family, friends and whoever was sick and unable to get around. She took many to doctor's appointments, the hospital and anything else they may need.

Pearl will be greatly missed but never forgotten in the hearts of her family and friends.

She leaves to cherish precious memory: her three children, Jesse Sherman (Susan) Peterson of Sayreville, New Jersey, Mildred Reed of Sumter and Melvin Marion (Hope) Reed of Blythewood; two surviving siblings, Bernice E. David and Irvin Lee (Francine) Murray; two grandsons, Melvin Jevon Reed and Jordan Wilder Reed; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, Richard, Willie, Winter, and Phyllis Murray.

Ms. Pearl will be placed in the church at 10 a.m. for viewing until the hour of service.

Public viewing will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Job's Mortuary.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, Sumter, with Pastor Marion Newton officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Memorial Park.

The family will be receiving friends at the home, 1890 N. St. Paul Church Road, Sumter.

Job's Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.