Ethel Lee Holmes

"Your spirit lives within us, forever in our hearts. Your presence we miss, your memory we treasure. Loving you always, forgetting you never."

Ethel Lee Holmes, daughter of the late Willie Edward Reed and Elizabeth Lizzie Reed, passed away peacefully at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center on October 5th, 2025. She was the matriarch of the family and was inspirational in ensuring that family traditions were carried through. Ethel deeply loved her family, friends and shared a special bond with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was immensely proud of her children and loved them dearly. Ethel was born on January 9th, 1938, in Chase City, Virginia where she built a lifetime of memories and family values. She always put God first and was grateful for the small things in life.

Ethel was educated in Mecklenburg County Public school system and later moved to Newark, New Jersey. She worked at Greystone Mental Hospital for ten years and then became a home health aide for the next twenty years, treating her patients like family.

In her leisure time, Ethel enjoyed playing bingo, visiting the casinos, and spending quality time with loved ones. To know her was to love her; she had a warm and loving personality and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Ethel married the late Ulysses Holmes Sr. in 1956. From their union, five children were born: Charles L. Holmes of South Boston, Virginia, Clarence E. Holmes of Albany, New York Barbara A. Holmes (deceased), Ulysses Holmes, Jr. (deceased) and Roger Holmes of Newport News, Virginia. She is also survived by her sister, Shirley Reed of Irvington, New Jersey; four grandchildren: Ashley B. Holmes of Clayton, Delaware, Charles Holmes, Jr. of Durham, North Carolina, Loleta Parrish of Atlanta, Georgia and Kaseem Holmes of Newark, New Jersey; five great-great grandchildren, Kamilah Joy Holmes and Justice Gabriel Holmes, both of Durham, North Carolina, Yeoshua Parrish, Yasmin Parrish and Yasir Parrish. Ethel is also survived by six nieces, and one nephew, including her devoted nieces Patricia and Pamela Reed. She also leaves behind close friends: Angela Grant and Pauline Moses; and a host of relatives and friends. Ethel Holmes is also survived by her brother-in-law, Mr. Joel Holmes of Richmond, Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her father Willie Edward Reed, her mother Elizabeth Lizzie Reed, and a brother James E. Reed Sr.

Funeral Service for Ms. Ethel Lee Holmes will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at The Chapel of Smithson Brothers Mortuary, 31397 Highway 49 North, Chase City, VA 23924. Burial will follow in the Thyne Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Chase City, VA. Visitation will begin on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M.

Final care and professional services entrusted to the Smithson Brothers Mortuary, Chase City, VA.

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