Paul Isaac Holmes, of Durham, North Carolina, born to Steven and Ann Holmes on September 19, 1990, left us long before we were ready to surrender the joy of living with his amazing light.
Paul was good and kind. He loved his family and his friends and had a keen sense of what others needed or wanted and effortlessly delivered. Whether that meant giving his time to you, playing chess, hiking, climbing, creating, baking, running, building, riding, juggling, digging, helping, or just being, Paul put all of himself into perceiving the needs of others.
From a young age, Paul was playful and fun. As a young teen, together with his brother and friends, he created a music video about Sheetz. So impressed, Sheetz sent each of the boys a $50 gift card (or was that a bribe in case they ever wanted to use the material for an ad, LOL?). Many other creative short movies followed.
Paul also had a unique athleticism. His aunt Cari told him she was going to run the Wilmington Marathon to get a qualifying time to enter the annual Boston. She suggested he join her by entering the 5K or mini of that same race, but that seemed silly to him. With little to no training Paul entered the full marathon and encouraged her through the entire race until they both crossed that finished line together, assuring she got the qualifying time she needed. She was exhausted; he was barely winded. Paul could also ride all kinds of unicycles and trick circus bikes and juggle anything you threw at him.
Paul was quick to pick up skills wherever opportunities presented themselves. He became a cheesemonger, an excellent cook and pastry chef, was skilled in all sorts of odd jobs and taught himself to use a number of computer drawing, painting, and design programs.
He spent time volunteering at the Durham Bike Co-op, where he expanded his knowledge about bicycle construction and repair.
Paul was nomadic and loved to explore. After growing up in Wake Forest, North Carolina, he bicycled to Columbia, South Carolina. There he cooked, cared, and did maintenance for a generous couple who took him in. He picked up more construction and culinary skills along the way. From there, Paul pushed himself to cycle to Colorado where he thrived in the outdoors and used his talents to support himself so he could absorb all the beauty the state offered. He returned to North Carolina where he spent time reconnecting with family and friends. He found a job where he could keep his hands dirty and his mind busy at Mid-Atlantic Infrastructure. When his job took him to Charlottesville, Virginia, he reveled in the beauty of state and national parks where he spent many weekends running, climbing, hiking, painting, and drawing. He was even happier when a friend or family member was able to join him.
After his contract in Virginia ended, Paul left his employment with Mid-Atlantic to complete a bucket list item. Using a bicycle he built while volunteering at the Durham Bike Co-op, he rode the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Both his athleticism and artistic talent played a huge role - he didn't just ride the trail, he painted it. Starting in Norfolk, Virginia, Paul hopped on his bike and soaked in, and painted, his way across the country. Staying in campgrounds, motels, churches, firestations, and hostels, he made his way to Astoria, Oregon. His sister, Sophie, compiled a book of many of the paintings he made along his journey.
After taking some time to leisurely explore Oregon, with friends he'd made along the way, Paul rode Amtrak to Union Station in Chicago - a lightning speed way to view the same landscape he'd just peddled through. He then returned to Durham with his parents, where he lived until he left this life.
Paul is survived by his parents, Ann and Steve Holmes; his brother, Sam Holmes; his sister, Sophie Holmes; his grandmothers Linda Beaman, Maureen Stengle, and Linda Stark; his grandfather, Bill Stark; his aunts, Cari Hardin, Robin Stark, and Maria Holmes; his uncles, Kenneth Holmes and Thomas Hardin; many cousins and countless others who will forever miss the light Paul brought in the world. He was preceded by his grandmother, Majvor Holmes and grandfathers, Winston Holmes and James Beaman.
A funeral and interment of ashes will be held for Paul on January 10, 2026 at 11:00 am at St, John's Episcopal Church, 834 Durham Rd., Wake Forest, NC, 27587 with shared memories and a lunch to follow in the parish hall.
In lieu of flowers, please do something nice for someone today or make a donation to a favorite charity. Two charities that added meaning to Paul's life were the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (PO Box 2679, Durham, NC 27715 or online at ellerbecreek.org) and the Durham Bike Co-op (PO Box 1225, Durham, NC or online at durhambikecoop.org )
Paul was good and kind. He loved his family and his friends and had a keen sense of what others needed or wanted and effortlessly delivered. Whether that meant giving his time to you, playing chess, hiking, climbing, creating, baking, running, building, riding, juggling, digging, helping, or just being, Paul put all of himself into perceiving the needs of others.
From a young age, Paul was playful and fun. As a young teen, together with his brother and friends, he created a music video about Sheetz. So impressed, Sheetz sent each of the boys a $50 gift card (or was that a bribe in case they ever wanted to use the material for an ad, LOL?). Many other creative short movies followed.
Paul also had a unique athleticism. His aunt Cari told him she was going to run the Wilmington Marathon to get a qualifying time to enter the annual Boston. She suggested he join her by entering the 5K or mini of that same race, but that seemed silly to him. With little to no training Paul entered the full marathon and encouraged her through the entire race until they both crossed that finished line together, assuring she got the qualifying time she needed. She was exhausted; he was barely winded. Paul could also ride all kinds of unicycles and trick circus bikes and juggle anything you threw at him.
Paul was quick to pick up skills wherever opportunities presented themselves. He became a cheesemonger, an excellent cook and pastry chef, was skilled in all sorts of odd jobs and taught himself to use a number of computer drawing, painting, and design programs.
He spent time volunteering at the Durham Bike Co-op, where he expanded his knowledge about bicycle construction and repair.
Paul was nomadic and loved to explore. After growing up in Wake Forest, North Carolina, he bicycled to Columbia, South Carolina. There he cooked, cared, and did maintenance for a generous couple who took him in. He picked up more construction and culinary skills along the way. From there, Paul pushed himself to cycle to Colorado where he thrived in the outdoors and used his talents to support himself so he could absorb all the beauty the state offered. He returned to North Carolina where he spent time reconnecting with family and friends. He found a job where he could keep his hands dirty and his mind busy at Mid-Atlantic Infrastructure. When his job took him to Charlottesville, Virginia, he reveled in the beauty of state and national parks where he spent many weekends running, climbing, hiking, painting, and drawing. He was even happier when a friend or family member was able to join him.
After his contract in Virginia ended, Paul left his employment with Mid-Atlantic to complete a bucket list item. Using a bicycle he built while volunteering at the Durham Bike Co-op, he rode the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Both his athleticism and artistic talent played a huge role - he didn't just ride the trail, he painted it. Starting in Norfolk, Virginia, Paul hopped on his bike and soaked in, and painted, his way across the country. Staying in campgrounds, motels, churches, firestations, and hostels, he made his way to Astoria, Oregon. His sister, Sophie, compiled a book of many of the paintings he made along his journey.
After taking some time to leisurely explore Oregon, with friends he'd made along the way, Paul rode Amtrak to Union Station in Chicago - a lightning speed way to view the same landscape he'd just peddled through. He then returned to Durham with his parents, where he lived until he left this life.
Paul is survived by his parents, Ann and Steve Holmes; his brother, Sam Holmes; his sister, Sophie Holmes; his grandmothers Linda Beaman, Maureen Stengle, and Linda Stark; his grandfather, Bill Stark; his aunts, Cari Hardin, Robin Stark, and Maria Holmes; his uncles, Kenneth Holmes and Thomas Hardin; many cousins and countless others who will forever miss the light Paul brought in the world. He was preceded by his grandmother, Majvor Holmes and grandfathers, Winston Holmes and James Beaman.
A funeral and interment of ashes will be held for Paul on January 10, 2026 at 11:00 am at St, John's Episcopal Church, 834 Durham Rd., Wake Forest, NC, 27587 with shared memories and a lunch to follow in the parish hall.
In lieu of flowers, please do something nice for someone today or make a donation to a favorite charity. Two charities that added meaning to Paul's life were the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association (PO Box 2679, Durham, NC 27715 or online at ellerbecreek.org) and the Durham Bike Co-op (PO Box 1225, Durham, NC or online at durhambikecoop.org )
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Paul Holmes, please visit our flower store.
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