Betty Jean Burress Holmes

Betty Jean Burress Holmes changed her residence from here to her Heavenly Home on July 11, 2020. She was born on October 24, 1933 at Berwind, West Virginia to the late Byrd Patton Burress and Ella River Mitchell Burress. She was the granddaughter of Zachariah Taylor Mitchen and Hanna Jane Sparks, and Raleigh Hamilton Burress and Cannie Combs Burress, all early Tazewell County natives. The family moved back to Virginia when Betty was 6 years old, where she attended Tazewell County schools, graduating from Richlands High School in 1950. Two weeks later, she married the love of her life, the late Alvin Lane Holmes. Her greatest desire in the years since his passing was to join him in worshipping her Savior. Betty and Alvin were part owners of V.H. Holmes Salvage. They founded Life Sanctuary (United Pentecostal Church) in 1966 along with First Apostolic Christian School in 1979. They pastored for 38 years. Betty taught many children to read during the years she volunteered as the school kindergarten teacher and elementary supervisor. Even more children learned about Jesus from the many years she taught Sunday School. In the years after her husband’s passing, she filled her time as she waited to join him with church work, reading, and becoming a news junkie. Many hours were spent cleaning and maintaining the church basement area…where she said she felt her late husband’s presence the most. Besides her parents and husband, Betty was preceded in death by her sons, Tony Michael Holmes and Randolph Marshall Holmes, along with an infant child; her granddaughter, Shenendoah Holmes Walraven; her sister, Margaret Ella Burress Addison; and her brother, Raymond Burress. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Betty is survived by her daughter, Patricia Lane Holmes Christian and her favorite son-in-law, Farley Christian, Jr. of Richlands, Virginia The daughter of her heart, Robin Frank Christian and husband, Lonnie and their children Angeline and Andrew and families of Cookville, Tennessee Her sons, Jonathan Chris Holmes and wife, Melanie of Richlands, Virginia Mark Anthony Holmes of Richlands, Virginia Granddaughters Evangeline Holmes Barnhart Tammy Jackson Bouton and husband, Mitchell Micah Holmes Price and husband, Shawn Hannah Christian Hensley and husband, Brandon Ariana Holmes Duron and husband, Alex Aleah Holmes Her only grandson, Jostin Holmes and wife, Laura Great Grandchildren, Heather, Meagan, Angel, Michael, Paul, Riley, Trinity, Abbie, Raegan, Adam, Abigail, Addison, Amara, and Cade also survive along with great-great grandchildren, Aaliya, Ari, Chloe, Nayomia, and Lorenzo. She leaves behind two sisters-in-law, Pauline Buress and Rebecca Holmes. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive. The Homegoing Celebration for Betty Jean Burress Holmes will be conducted at 11 AM on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at the Life Sanctuary Church in Richlands, Virginia with Reverend Farley Christian, Jr. and Reverend Brandon Hensley officiating. Interment will follow at Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill, Virginia. Nephews and Men of the Church will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the church from 6 PM until 9 PM on Monday evening, July 13, 2020. Hurst-Scott Funeral Home in Richlands, Virginia is in charge of arrangements and those wishing to express sympathy online may do so at www.hurstscottfuneralhomes.com

Betty Jean Burress Holmes

October 24, 1933 - July 11, 2020