Gladys Holmes

Mrs. Holmes was born January 2, 1916 in Atlanta, Georgia.  She was the fifth of eight children born to Mr. William Boston Long and Mrs. Blanche Decatur Long.  She attended Booker T. Washington High School (Class of 1933) and Clark University (Class of 1937) which later became Clark College and finally Clark Atlanta University.  When Mrs. Holmes talked about Clark University/College, her face would light up about memories of the “school on the hill,” and especially, “Magnolia Lane.”  She majored in Home Economics and Education.  After graduation, she taught in the Atlanta area.  She was a former member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and Warren Memorial United Methodist Church in Atlanta.

Mrs. Holmes met and later married Walter O. Holmes Sr.  She and Mr. Holmes moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she was employed with the Internal Revenue Service before working with the Kansas City Missouri School District.  Mrs. Holmes taught for more than 30 years before retiring in the 1980s. She was a former member of Kansas City Teachers Union, Retiree Teachers Association, and Centennial United Methodist Church in Kansas City.

Mr. and Mrs. Holmes had three children.  Mr. Holmes and one son proceeded her in death.  Her two surviving children are Walter O. Holmes Jr and Sheila E. Holmes.  She was the grandmother of two, Kellen G. (Nyesha) Holmes Sr and Karis R. Holmes, great-grandmother of two, Kellen G. Holmes, Jr and ZaNya R. Holmes, and step-great-grandmother to Malachi Curtis.

Her interests before medical issues and limited mobility were cooking, gardening, doing puzzles, traveling, reading, going to the casinos, and most of all, her FAMILY.  She really enjoyed Sunday dinners with family and friends.  Her motto:  Family, Food, Fellowship, and Fun.

She really wanted to attend her 80th class reunion in 2017, but physically, she was unable.  Before her passing, she was the oldest living alum at the college/university.

She gained her heavenly wings on December 4, 2020.  She leaves behind a host of nephews, nieces, family and friends to celebrate her life.

“She will be truly missed and not forgotten”

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