Margaret A. Holmes

June 4, 1941 - October 15, 2021

Service for Mrs. Holmes will be held on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Anderson First Seventh Day Adventist Church, Anderson, SC with Pastor Dr. Horace Malone, presiding and Pastor Dr. Patrick Carter, eulogist. Public viewing will be Wednesday, October 20, 2021 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm and on Thursday from 9:00 am until 11:30 am. At the request of the family, there will not be a repast after the service due to the covid pandemic and all attendees are encouraged to please wear a mask at the service. The service will be stream - live exclusively through The Unity Mortuary Facebook page. Margaret Ann Curry Holmes was born on Wednesday, June 4, 1941 in Anderson, South Carolina and entered eternal rest on Friday, October 15, 2021 at Anderson Memorial Hospital. She was the tenth child of 16 children, born to Lourlee and Lester Curry, Sr. She attended public school and was a graduate of Westside Senior High School, “Class of 1960.” Margaret loved to laugh and have fun. She was very keen as a young mother of three; Sandra, Russell, and Eddie and later a wife and mother of four. She did her best to provide and care for her children with help from her parents, siblings and other family members. She married Jerome Holmes, and from that union her fourth child Melody was born. Margaret was active in the lives of her children. She promoted and supported athletic activities and the arts by ensuring their annual YMCA or Recreation Center memberships. Additionally, she was a Den Mother for her son’s Cub Scout troop. She and several mothers from the Eastside community formed a Cub Scout troop, whereby exposing its members to various careers and African American professionals within the community; One such notable was radio personality Mr. Willis H. Crosby of WANS radio station. Margaret also served the community as a participant in respite care for children within the Foster Care program. This experience afforded her the opportunity to aid in the molding and development of several youngsters within the community. She was afforded the opportunity to create a family-oriented environment for them to grow and thrive. Margaret was a hard worker who sought to achieve a better life for her family. She believed in higher education and even enrolled in Anderson College for classes to increase her professional knowledge. She had experience working in the field of psychiatric healthcare (Letchworth Psychiatric Hospital, Haverstraw, NY); manufacturing (Dow Badische, Anderson, SC); patient transport (AMVETS, Anderson, SC) and hospital food service (Anderson Memorial Hospital, Anderson, SC). She also earned her Certification as a Nursing Assistant. Margaret’s love for Christ was the motivating factor for her participation in church ministry. She was a faithful member of the Anderson First Seventh-day Adventist Church. She served in several positions: Choir director, unofficial musical event planner, Community Service Leader, Usher and Deaconess. As one who always enjoyed music, she often invited local artists, vocalists and musicians alike to contribute to Sabbath church service or special evening programs. Often if a recording of an event was taking place, she took responsibility for documenting the event. She has collected many video tapes and recordings of church and family events. Margaret loved being in the kitchen and not because she was a great cook, but she had some good recipes often acquired from co-workers. Some of her best culinary ideas were flavored homemade ice cream with peppermint candy or walnuts; her String Bean and Asparagus casseroles would surface several times throughout the week until all were satisfied! She was known to nibble and could certainly downsize a pound cake, slice by slice, while holding a full conversation! Margaret enjoyed singing and had a strong alto voice. She would sing anywhere and anytime. She and her sisters would sing for church service and for community events. During the mid-1970’s, as a member of one of Anderson’s local community choirs, she took advantage of the opportunity to sing in a mass choir backing gospel recording artist, James Cleveland. This was one of her life’s highlights! She often took her church’s youth group to local nursing facilities to sing to the residents after church service on Sabbath afternoon. This was a true testament of her commitment to music and ministry. In addition to her parents, Margaret was preceded in death by a son, Russell Curry; a great granddaughter, Kailyn C. Oglesby; her siblings: Cathryn Newell, Mildred Gambrell, Barbara J. Foreman, Helen Wardlaw, Bertha Curry, Lizzie Dean, Mary Owens, Betty R. Vizcarrondo, Bathsheba Timpson, and Leetha Curry. Margaret is survived by her sisters: Thomasenia Glass, Julia Wideman Reeves, Joann Curry, and Sarah Stewart; a brother, Lester Curry, Jr.;her children: Sandra Oglesby (Clarence), Eddie Curry, and Melody Holmes; grandsons: Rickey Oglesby (Latoya), Forris Gilliard (Christine), Antonio Jones (Confidant and Caretaker), Maurice Mills, and Detravious Mills; granddaughters: Maritza Oglesby, Dimitrica O. Jamerson (Bernard), Curry Oglesby, Shawanna Gillard, and Shardae Gillard; her dearest friend, Ms. Dorothy Williams; twelve great-grandchildren; forty-four nieces and nephews; and a host of other family members and friends. The family is at their respective homes.