Holmes, Effie Reason
Was born to the late Vellar Cannady and Will Reason on May 15, 1916 in Palantine, Arkansas. Her parents and siblings moved to Forest City, Arkansas, when she was a young girl. Her brothers Fentric ( Little Jack) and Eloise ( Jab) Hickman and sisters Eola Chatman and Pearl Boone preceded her in death.
Her early education was completed in the Round Pond, Arkansas public school system.
She married the late Thomas Gross, a union that produced a son, Oscar Lee Gross, who preceded her in death.
In October 1938, she married Wilson Holmes – a 65 year union that lasted until his transition in February 2004, which produced four children – daughters, Claudia ( John) and Ophelia ( Timothy Sr.) and sons, Larry ( deceased) and Ladell ( Vicky).
In 1941, after a final harvest of their crops and selling most of their worldly possessions, Wilson and Effie gathered their children and made the long migration to the South Side of Chicago, Illinois.
Upon arriving in Chicago, she obtained employment as a meat packer with the Oscar Mayer meat company and later worked for 19 years at the Atlas Specialty Manufacturing Company as a seamstress.
On November 21, 1953, her dedication to Jehovah was symbolized by water baptism and thereby becoming a devoted Jehovah’s Witness.
Effie Holmes was an excellent cook and especially took pleasure in seeing others enjoy the food that she prepared. A specialty of hers was homemade, canned “Cha- Cha”.
She loved reading and studying the Bible and believed in living a Christian lifestyle, imparting those values to her children.
Effie’s passion was her family. She loved her immediate and extended family of grandchildren, great- grandchildren, great- great- grandchildren, nieces and nephews as well as the world wide association of Sisters and Brothers of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
On Tuesday morning, November 7, 2017, Effie made her earthly transition – a peaceful one in the loving home of the Thomas family. With eternal and loving memories she leaves two daughters, Claudia and Ophelia ( Timothy); one son, Ladell; 9 grandchildren; 12 great- grandchildren; 4 greatgreatgrand-children; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins, and the world wide association of sisters and brothers of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Services Monday, November 13, 2017; Prepast 9: 00 a. m. Visitation 10: 00 a. m. Funeral 11: 00 a. m. at Leak and Sons Funeral Chapels, 7838 South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60619. Brother Napoleon Horton – Chairman.