Peter Ernest Holmes

Peter Ernest Holmes of Southern Pines, NC, passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his loving wife and children, on June 21, 2024.

Peter was born on April 7, 1939, in Orrville, Ohio to Carl and Emilie Taylor Holmes. Following the death of his father when Peter was six months old, his mother raised Peter and his brothers, William and James. Emilie, an elementary school teacher and principle, was Peter's greatest influence and guiding light.

After graduating from Orville High School, Peter attended Northwestern University, where he served as President of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. In 1961, Peter graduated with degrees in political science and international relations. He continued his education with graduate studies in international relations at the American University in Washington, DC.

Peter began his 38-year career on Capitol Hill as a writer and editor for the weekly newsmagazine Congressional Quarterly. He then served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Robert Griffin of Michigan and, later, as Administrative Assistant to the Republican U.S. Senate WHIP.

He spent six years with the U.S. Office for Civil Rights. From 1973-75, Peter served as director, dismantling segregation in the school systems of 17 Southern and Border States and developing the regulatory and enforcement program for the historic and newly enacted in 1972 Title IX program. In 1974, President Nixon named Peter as a U.S. representative to the United Nations Human Rights Conference held in Ohrid, Yugoslavia.

Upon leaving the Federal Government, Peter served as a Washington Representative for General Electric in its Corporate Government Relations operation. Following his time at GE, Peter worked with a law firm in DC, becoming Executive Director of the Puerto Rico-USA Foundation, a coalition of financial, pharmaceutical, electronic and manufacturing companies operating in Puerto Rico.

In 1998, Peter retired to the Pinehurst area with his beloved wife Anne, spending time entertaining with friends and family, particularly their grandchildren. Peter also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, and served as Board member and fundraiser for Pinehurst's Givens Memorial Library and Tufts Archives, a Board member of the Ruth Pauley Lecture Series, and held a seminar at the Sandhills Community College. He was an avid golfer and member of Pinehurst Country Club, where he served on the Board of the Tin Whistles organization. Peter and Anne attended Pinehurst's Village Chapel and Southern Pines' Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

Peter was preceded in death by his father, Carl; his mother, Emilie; and his two brothers, William and James. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Anne; his three sons: James (Shannon), Robert and Michael (Erica); his four step-children: Lammot (Kellen), Bill (Martina), Ridgely (Tom) and Stuart; and his 13 grandchildren: Re-Pete and Willy Holmes; Ryan and Kaelyn Holmes; Ben, Sam and Ady Holmes; Jackson and Reesey duPont; Teagan Sweeney; and Emily, Charlie and Abby Benjamin.

Services will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Southern Pines, NC on July 19th at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Peter wanted loved ones to donate to The Tin Whistle Scholarship Foundation (https://thetinwhistles.org/twsf).

Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com. Service arrangements are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home.