CARL HOLMES SR.

Mr. Carl Holmes Sr., son of the late Frank Holmes and Kathleen Reed, was born in Newark, New Jersey, on Nov. 17, 1938. He peacefully transitioned from this life surrounded by loved ones at his home on Friday, July 17, 2024. In addition to his parents, Mr. Holmes was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rita Holmes, and his daughter, Myschalyne (the late Curtis) Brunson.

Mr. Holmes was active in the Sumter Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for many years and served in various leadership positions, including branch president from 1989 to 1996. He also served as the executive committee's first vice president and chairperson of various standing committees.

While serving as branch president, Mr. Holmes brought about significant accomplishments of many civil rights issues, including the establishment of single-member voting districts for the City of Sumter and Sumter School District, the implementation of voter registration and education drives and the hiring of the first African American human resources director for the city and county administrations. The Sumter Branch of the NAACP received many awards under the guidance of Mr. Holmes, including the Outstanding Leadership Award, National Life Membership Production Award, L. A. Blackmon Award, Benjamin Hooks Life Membership Award and the Bill Cosby Life Membership Award.

Mr. Holmes founded the "Save Our Children, Save Our Future" coalition, which assisted at-risk minority youth in life skills training and securing employment. He engaged in dialogue with the City of Sumter and Sumter School District to recognize the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in Sumter. One of his most significant accomplishments was the creation of the Sumter Unity Program. The program is designed to improve race relations in Sumter County by bringing together people of all nationalities to socialize in a climate of mutual respect, and the program resulted in a municipal award for the City of Sumter. Mr. Holmes believed that we must have racial equality in education, our judicial system and our economic and lending institutions. He dedicated his life to making that belief a reality.

Mr. Holmes was a community activist and a man of faith. He attended Right Direction Church International, Columbia, South Carolina, where he ministered in the Seasoned Citizens Ministry alongside his wife, Rita Holmes. He loved his church family and the leadership of Bishop Herbert and Dr. Marcia Bailey. He attended church faithfully until he became his wife’s full-time caregiver.

Mr. Holmes leaves to cherish his memories: two daughters, Sherri (Ronald) Glisson and Valencia (Calvin) Montgomery; two sons, Carl (Vernice) Holmes Jr. and Lester (Miuko) Holmes; three sisters and three brothers; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 26, 2024, in the John Wesley Williams Sr. Memorial Chapel of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter, with Bishop Herbert Bailey, officiating.

The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home, 6651 Francis Marion Avenue, Dalzell.

Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.

Online messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr.com. Visit us on the web at www.WilliamsFuneralHomeInc.com.