Bio-Brief
Mother Sarah Jane Holmes
1914-2014
Mother Sarah Jane Holmes was born on November 10, 1914 and raised in Providence, Florida. She resided in the small settlement of Hopewell. In 1932 after her marriage to Mr. Luck Holmes she joined the Hopewell Church of God By Faith. She raised her 14 children (7 girls & 7 boys) at Hopewell COGBF.
Mother Holmes was a member at Hopewell COGBF for more than 80 years. She saw many pastors come and go, taking it upon herself to care for each one during their pastorship (bringing them to her home, feeding their families, making them comfortable, etc.).
Around the year of 1995, God told Mother Holmes to start a mission in Lake Butler, Florida. She requested assistance from Minister Jacob James. They went to Lake Butler from house to house witnessing to the people. When Minister James stopped coming, Mother Holmes kept the faith that God would do a work in Lake Butler. Sometimes in the cold and sometimes in the rain she was seen by many in the Lake Butler community. God soon gave her a building to hold services. The people were coming to join! So much so that she asked District Superintendent, Elder James Williams, for a Pastor. Elder Alvin Robinson was sent to pastor the Mission in Lake Butler and it continued to excel. One family that joined the mission was Minister Leonard Watkins and his family. They served the mission faithfully until they were assigned to pastor in another area.
Mother Holmes donated a piece of land in Lake Butler to have a church built. Today, a brand new church is located on the land with approximately 35 members. When Elder Robinson was reassigned, Elder Leonard Watkins was brought back to Lake Butler, to serve as Pastor.
Mother Holmes served on the Gainesville District for many years. Her main message to the people, as she would say it "We need to pay ‘dem tithes.” In her community and from county to county she did home-to-home nursing and mission work while working as a welfare social worker.
Mother Holmes has been a blessing and a great asset to the Church of God by Faith and to her community. In recognition of her dedication and unwavering faith as a servant of God she was given a "Standard of Excellence Award" at the COGBF National Convention in Rochester, NY in June 2006.
Dictated by Mother Holmes to Carolyn Reynolds, June 2006
Revised for Demise, April 4, 2014
Approved by the Family
