Dr. Robert Collier Holmes was born June 6, 1902, in Sante Fe, Tennessee. He died at his home in Lakeland on January 9, 1997. The funeral
service was held at College Heights Church in Lakeland on January 12, with
the Rev. William J. Oakley, Drs. Eldon Simmons, RobertA. Davis, and Charles
P. Hamilton officiating. Interment followed the next day at Quincy, Florida.
He was married to his surviving wife, Marie (Beaman) Holmes, in 1930, and
they had no children.
He was a graduate of Massey Military Academy, received an A.B. Degree from Vanderbilt University and an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Florida Southern College in 1944.
Dr. Holmes joined the Florida Conference in 1926, and served the following appointments: Lady Lake, Inverness, Apopka, Miami Beach, Quincy, First Church in Gainesville, superintendent of the Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Tallahassee Districts, Executive Secretary of the Board of Missions and Church Extension and Director of the Florida Methodist Foundation.
He served on the following conference boards: Missions and Church Extension, Evangelism, Christian Education, Hospitals and Homes and the World Service Commission.
He served beyond the bounds of the Florida Conference on the following General Church Boards: Pensions, Christian Social Concerns and the General Conference Programs and Entertainment for twelve years.
Along with others he gave leadership in establishing the Episcopal Residence and the United Methodist Building in Lakeland, Sunny Shores Villas retirement home and Goodwill Industries in St. Petersburg, the Florida Methodist Foundation, the Robert C. Holmes Trust Fund, the Florida Conference Legal Council and the Florida Methodist Credit Union.
A true Prince of the Church has gone from among us. Dr. Robert Collier Holmes was a man of great vision, financial wizardry, faith and piety. Amen and Amen!
Submitted by: Eldon Simmons and Charles P. Hamilton
Dr. Holmes was also recognised in a representation of the Florida United Methodist Foundation on p.366 as follows:
The Florida United Methodist Foundation, Inc. was organized as a direct result of the foresight and leadership of Dr. Robert C. Holmes (1902-1997). In 1966, he became the Foundation's first Executive Director and served in this position until1979. His achievement in establishing the Foundation was the culmination of a long and successful ministry in the Florida Conference. The Foundation continues to honor the memory of Dr. Holmes through its charitable services to churches, agencies, and individuals of the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.