Tomato and Onions
W.O. Holmes Sr. was a dedicated gardener who grew vegetables such as green beans, tomatoes, and onions. This aspect of his life is symbolized in the family quilt where his tomatoes and onions are included to honor his contribution to the family’s self-sustenance and connection to the earth. Many Black families who lived in more rural localities relied on self-sufficiency through growing food as a means to support the family. This theme represents W.O. Holmes’ passion for gardening and ties back to the family’s values of self-sufficiency and connection to nature.
Frances Johnson Holmes
Second wife of W.O. Holmes Sr. Records show Frances's importance within the family network. Taking on the role of step-mom to both W.O. Holmes’ children, Jean and William Oakley Holmes Jr., Frances Holmes raised the children for at least a decade as her own. The 1940s census shows that Frances's highest level of education was completed in two years of college, which was a likely reason why Jean Holmes was able to find such success in her college years and graduation. Her inclusion in the quilt demonstrates the interconnectedness and unity of the Holmes family, showcasing the broader community ties that were part of the family’s fabric.
William Oakley Holmes WWII Draft Registration card (courtesy of Ancestry.com
Holmes Family on Lawsuit
Jean O. Holmes was signed on to the Corbin et. al. v. Pulaski County School Board et. al. case by her father, William O. Holmes. Signed on before high school graduation, Jean Holmes had a precedent set by her father early on in her life that highlighted the importance of education and community. Attaching the family name onto this lawsuit was just one of the many ways how W.O. Holmes prioritized his children's education and their wellbeing.
Jean O. Holmes, an infant, by W.O. Holmes, her father and next friend
Calfee Class Photo
In the front row is Jean Holmes in her plaid skirt and white collared shirt. While Jean Holmes went on to achieve academic success, her educational experience started at Calfee Training School. Calfee was a place where students came to learn, grow, and prepare themselves for their next steps. For many Calfee graduates, that was furthering their education at CII. Some went straight into the workforce. But for all students, Calfee shaped them on an interpersonal level. Without the time and experience at the Calfee Training School, Jean Holmes would not have been able to further her educational experience.
Courtesy of the Holmes Family
William Oakley Holmes Sr.
Born on December 22, 1893, William Oakley Holmes Sr. was the son of Henrietta Holmes and grew up in Pulaski, Virginia. W.O. Holmes worked as a mail carrier on the Norfolk and Western Railroad. In his marriage to Alice Blakey Holmes, he had a daughter Jean Holmes and a son William Oakley Holmes Jr. Throughout his life, W.O. Holmes Sr. was a member of the New Century Methodist Church in Pulaski and prioritized the importance of education onto his children. By encouraging his children to be active members of the local Methodist churches and to take their education seriously, W.O. Holmes Sr. was highly influential in the lives of his children.
Courtesy of the Holmes Family.
Train Line Drawing
Representing W.O. Holmes Sr.'s career, a train is sticted onto the quilt to symbolize his commitment to his job and his family. Throughout the early to mid 20th century many Black men in southwest Virginia worked for Norfolk and Western Railroad with many of the jobs being in Roanoke, Virginia. For many Black men of this region, working for the railroad gave higher pay compared to other jobs in the area. Working for N&W as a Black man in the 1910s to 1940s was a job that was well respected within the community and “…allowed many Black workers to purchase a home and send their children to college.” While pay and conditions were often better than other sources of income for Black men, working for the Railroad still came with racial discrimination. The imagery of a train rolling down its tracks is meant to symbolize W.O. Holmes Sr.’s work on the railroad, paying homage to his career and contribution to the family.
Torch and Book
W.O. Holmes Sr. prioritized his childrens education, which was then passed down to his granddaughter, Zebbie Holmes. Jean Holmes, W.O. Holmes Sr.'s daughter, was pushed to obtain an education in many ways. Jean graduated from Christiansburg Industrial Institute in 1947, going on to graduate from Morristown College and work in the Pulaski County School District. Jean Holmes' success in education inspired her daughter Zebbie to further her education to pursue a career in nursing. In the Holmes family, education played an essential role in the family dynamic as education was stressed as a means to be self-reliant and sufficient, as well as a method of proving Black excellence and intelligence.
Luke 8:5
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path."
Luke 8:5 focuses on how people receive God’s word, with some seeds falling on the land producing a fertile harvest, and others falling along the path to be trampled and eaten by birds. The church was a unifying factor in the family as the children took in the same Methodist faith of their parents and elders. William Oakley Holmes Jr. is a example as his father's and uncle’s presence in Pulaski's New Century Methodist Church led to a lifelong commitment to being an usher at New Century and the Randolph Avenue Methodist Church. The seeds dropped by the earlier generations of the family were sown from one generation to the next as the children and descendants continued the legacy of Methodist faith.
Tithe Bowl and Communion Trays
Many generations of the Holmes family were involved in their Methodist faith. Both William Oakley Holmes Sr. and Jr. were New Century Methodist Church members. W.O. Holmes Jr. was an usher for New Century and Randolph Avenue United Methodist Church for over 50 years. Many men in the family were also members of the “United Methodist Men”. W.O. Holmes Sr.’s brother, George Holmes, also served as an usher and frequently carried communion trays to and from the altar. The family’s strong connection to the church is reflected in the quilt by the communion trays and a tithe bowl.
Jean Holmes Brown
Born on April 27th, 1930 in Pulaski, VA, Jean Holmes Brown was the daughter of W.O. Holmes Sr. and Alice Blakey Holmes. She attended the Calfee Training School and Christiansburg Industrial Institute. After graduating from CII, Jean Holmes graduated from Morristown College. Jean Holmes became an active member of the Corbin YMCA in Pulaski from its opening. Jean Holmes was a pillar within her community, serving Pulaski and her children in many ways through the guidance of lessons and values taught to her by her father and other Holmes family relatives.
Courtesy of the Holmes Family
Cick Here to Watch
Number 42
While working for the Norfolk and Western Railroad, the number "42" was central to W.O. Holmes Sr's work, often referred to as "the number 42 for the train." The number “42” may have once been a common colloquialism related to Norfolk Southern Railroad, but this claim is not varrified. The number “42” on the Holmes square represents W.O. Holmes Sr.'s job as a Railroad worker to support his family.
Tomato and Onions
W.O. Holmes Sr. was a dedicated gardener who grew vegetables such as green beans, tomatoes, and onions. This aspect of his life is symbolized in the family quilt where his tomatoes and onions are included to honor his contribution to the family’s self-sustenance and connection to the earth. Many Black families who lived in more rural localities relied on self-sufficiency through growing food as a means to support the family. This theme represents W.O. Holmes’ passion for gardening and ties back to the family’s values of self-sufficiency and connection to nature.
Holmes
Jill Williams
Created on October 3, 2025
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Transcript
Tomato and Onions
W.O. Holmes Sr. was a dedicated gardener who grew vegetables such as green beans, tomatoes, and onions. This aspect of his life is symbolized in the family quilt where his tomatoes and onions are included to honor his contribution to the family’s self-sustenance and connection to the earth. Many Black families who lived in more rural localities relied on self-sufficiency through growing food as a means to support the family. This theme represents W.O. Holmes’ passion for gardening and ties back to the family’s values of self-sufficiency and connection to nature.
Frances Johnson Holmes
Second wife of W.O. Holmes Sr. Records show Frances's importance within the family network. Taking on the role of step-mom to both W.O. Holmes’ children, Jean and William Oakley Holmes Jr., Frances Holmes raised the children for at least a decade as her own. The 1940s census shows that Frances's highest level of education was completed in two years of college, which was a likely reason why Jean Holmes was able to find such success in her college years and graduation. Her inclusion in the quilt demonstrates the interconnectedness and unity of the Holmes family, showcasing the broader community ties that were part of the family’s fabric.
William Oakley Holmes WWII Draft Registration card (courtesy of Ancestry.com
Holmes Family on Lawsuit
Jean O. Holmes was signed on to the Corbin et. al. v. Pulaski County School Board et. al. case by her father, William O. Holmes. Signed on before high school graduation, Jean Holmes had a precedent set by her father early on in her life that highlighted the importance of education and community. Attaching the family name onto this lawsuit was just one of the many ways how W.O. Holmes prioritized his children's education and their wellbeing.
Jean O. Holmes, an infant, by W.O. Holmes, her father and next friend
Calfee Class Photo
In the front row is Jean Holmes in her plaid skirt and white collared shirt. While Jean Holmes went on to achieve academic success, her educational experience started at Calfee Training School. Calfee was a place where students came to learn, grow, and prepare themselves for their next steps. For many Calfee graduates, that was furthering their education at CII. Some went straight into the workforce. But for all students, Calfee shaped them on an interpersonal level. Without the time and experience at the Calfee Training School, Jean Holmes would not have been able to further her educational experience.
Courtesy of the Holmes Family
William Oakley Holmes Sr.
Born on December 22, 1893, William Oakley Holmes Sr. was the son of Henrietta Holmes and grew up in Pulaski, Virginia. W.O. Holmes worked as a mail carrier on the Norfolk and Western Railroad. In his marriage to Alice Blakey Holmes, he had a daughter Jean Holmes and a son William Oakley Holmes Jr. Throughout his life, W.O. Holmes Sr. was a member of the New Century Methodist Church in Pulaski and prioritized the importance of education onto his children. By encouraging his children to be active members of the local Methodist churches and to take their education seriously, W.O. Holmes Sr. was highly influential in the lives of his children.
Courtesy of the Holmes Family.
Train Line Drawing
Representing W.O. Holmes Sr.'s career, a train is sticted onto the quilt to symbolize his commitment to his job and his family. Throughout the early to mid 20th century many Black men in southwest Virginia worked for Norfolk and Western Railroad with many of the jobs being in Roanoke, Virginia. For many Black men of this region, working for the railroad gave higher pay compared to other jobs in the area. Working for N&W as a Black man in the 1910s to 1940s was a job that was well respected within the community and “…allowed many Black workers to purchase a home and send their children to college.” While pay and conditions were often better than other sources of income for Black men, working for the Railroad still came with racial discrimination. The imagery of a train rolling down its tracks is meant to symbolize W.O. Holmes Sr.’s work on the railroad, paying homage to his career and contribution to the family.
Torch and Book
W.O. Holmes Sr. prioritized his childrens education, which was then passed down to his granddaughter, Zebbie Holmes. Jean Holmes, W.O. Holmes Sr.'s daughter, was pushed to obtain an education in many ways. Jean graduated from Christiansburg Industrial Institute in 1947, going on to graduate from Morristown College and work in the Pulaski County School District. Jean Holmes' success in education inspired her daughter Zebbie to further her education to pursue a career in nursing. In the Holmes family, education played an essential role in the family dynamic as education was stressed as a means to be self-reliant and sufficient, as well as a method of proving Black excellence and intelligence.
Luke 8:5
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path."
Luke 8:5 focuses on how people receive God’s word, with some seeds falling on the land producing a fertile harvest, and others falling along the path to be trampled and eaten by birds. The church was a unifying factor in the family as the children took in the same Methodist faith of their parents and elders. William Oakley Holmes Jr. is a example as his father's and uncle’s presence in Pulaski's New Century Methodist Church led to a lifelong commitment to being an usher at New Century and the Randolph Avenue Methodist Church. The seeds dropped by the earlier generations of the family were sown from one generation to the next as the children and descendants continued the legacy of Methodist faith.
Tithe Bowl and Communion Trays
Many generations of the Holmes family were involved in their Methodist faith. Both William Oakley Holmes Sr. and Jr. were New Century Methodist Church members. W.O. Holmes Jr. was an usher for New Century and Randolph Avenue United Methodist Church for over 50 years. Many men in the family were also members of the “United Methodist Men”. W.O. Holmes Sr.’s brother, George Holmes, also served as an usher and frequently carried communion trays to and from the altar. The family’s strong connection to the church is reflected in the quilt by the communion trays and a tithe bowl.
Jean Holmes Brown
Born on April 27th, 1930 in Pulaski, VA, Jean Holmes Brown was the daughter of W.O. Holmes Sr. and Alice Blakey Holmes. She attended the Calfee Training School and Christiansburg Industrial Institute. After graduating from CII, Jean Holmes graduated from Morristown College. Jean Holmes became an active member of the Corbin YMCA in Pulaski from its opening. Jean Holmes was a pillar within her community, serving Pulaski and her children in many ways through the guidance of lessons and values taught to her by her father and other Holmes family relatives.
Courtesy of the Holmes Family
Cick Here to Watch
Number 42
While working for the Norfolk and Western Railroad, the number "42" was central to W.O. Holmes Sr's work, often referred to as "the number 42 for the train." The number “42” may have once been a common colloquialism related to Norfolk Southern Railroad, but this claim is not varrified. The number “42” on the Holmes square represents W.O. Holmes Sr.'s job as a Railroad worker to support his family.
Tomato and Onions
W.O. Holmes Sr. was a dedicated gardener who grew vegetables such as green beans, tomatoes, and onions. This aspect of his life is symbolized in the family quilt where his tomatoes and onions are included to honor his contribution to the family’s self-sustenance and connection to the earth. Many Black families who lived in more rural localities relied on self-sufficiency through growing food as a means to support the family. This theme represents W.O. Holmes’ passion for gardening and ties back to the family’s values of self-sufficiency and connection to nature.