Willie Henry Holmes Sr

Willie Henry Holmes, Sr., affectionately known as "Snipe" and "Champ", to his family, friends, and former riverfront co-workers. He was one of eight children, born on August 5, 1935, in Natchez, MS, to the late Frank Holmes and Clara Dunbar Freeman. He was a true country boy and loved telling the same stories over and over again about his upbringing in Natchez. For those who knew him very well, these stories never changed and will forever be embedded in our memories! Many did not know that Willie was a songwriter and recorded several love songs back in the 1960's. He loved to paint scenery like the famous painter, Bob Ross (with the iconic Afro). He baked beautiful cakes, made jewelry--rings out of nut bolts, belt buckles with coins, leather laced wallets, and money clips. He also loved to shoot pool, fish, play his piano, harmonica, and guitar. At 90 years old, he was so proud of the fact that he was never on any prescription medications. He took great care of himself, was always neat, clean, smelled good, and wore well-starched clothes. He even operated on himself at times--yes, operated, which also included stitches! He exercised often, loved working in the yard, cutting down trees, and was still mowing the lawn. He was able to fix anything--he was indeed a jack of all trades! Funny fact: Over the decades, he celebrated three different birthdates--August 3rd, August 5th, and August 10th. After Hurricane Katrina, he found that his true birthday was August 5th! So confusing, that many family members could not remember his birthday!

He relocated from Natchez to New Orleans in the 1950's at age 15. He was a longtime employee of the New Orleans Employers - International Longshoremen's Association and worked as a Longshoreman on the riverfront from 1961 until his retirement in 1997.

He was united in holy matrimony to Nevada McKnight, and they had been married for 65 years. He and Nevada resided in New Orleans for well over 70 years. In 2019, they gave up everything they knew and had, demonstrating unconditional, brave, and selfless love by relocating to Conyers, GA, for the sole purpose of caring for their ailing twin daughter, Rhonda.

He departed this life on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at home in Conyers, GA. He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepson, Michael Oshay McKnight. He was the last surviving child of eight siblings: two sisters, Eliza "Mondora" Dunbar Johnson and Eloise "Mymee" Holmes Harris; five brothers, Walter "Polk" Sanders, Clay "Dudda" Wilkins, Grant "Nuug" Dunbar, Jr., Levi Dunbar; and James "Mud" Wilkins.

Those left to celebrate his life and cherish his memories are his beloved wife, Nevada McKnight Holmes, Conyers, GA; three children: a son, Willie Henry Holmes, Jr., (Gwendolen) Columbus, GA; twin daughters, Rhonda Holmes Jayroe (the late John Henry) Conyers, GA and Charleston, SC; Wanda Holmes Nunn (Erskine, Jr.), Apopka, FL; four grandchildren: Willie Henry Holmes, III, Columbus, GA; Bianca Holmes Thomas, Columbus, GA; Tyson McKnight, Fairburn, GA; Erskine Nunn, III, Apopka, FL; and Ashley Nunn Scoltock-Garcia, Apopka, FL; five great grandchildren: Rylie Holmes, Nevaeh Thomas, Maverick Thomas, Nadia Williams, Aidan Williams and Ivy Scoltock-Garcia; two very special nieces: Vera Smoot, Natchez, MS and Thelma Montgomery-Daniels, Natchez, MS; a very special great niece, Nicole Blackwell, Snellville, GA; daughters-in-law, a host of loving nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

His Memorial Service will be held at D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 2:00 pm. The memorial Service will be livestreamed by visiting www.facebook.com/D.W.RhodesFuneralHome/live. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to share condolences and sign the guestbook.