BIOGRAPHY
MS Holmes has been an active member of the Georgia Regional Group Columbus Chapter since September 2015. In November 2015, she was appointed Chapter secretary and in January 2016, the Regional President asked if she would be the Regional secretary which she gladly accepted.
During her tenure as secretary, MS Holmes assisted in successful State Conventions since 2016. MS Holmes is one to voice her opinion and always willing to assist in proof reading written matter concerning the Region. MS Holmes has recorded and submitted State Convention requirements in a timely manner. She has many attributes which lends to the success of the Georgia Regional Group.
In the Chapter setting, MS Holmes has organized the members to participate in the March of Dimes Walk in 2016. MS Holmes has been a participant of this walk since 2005 and to bring community awareness to the Chapter, she asked if the members would support her. In 2017, the Columbus Chapter walked as a team. The Columbus Chapter was presented with a THANK YOU plaque for donating approximately $1350 for last year’s (2018) Walk. To date, the Chapter has raised over approximately $3500 for the March of Dimes.
In a short time, she has made herself available to all Regional members. She keeps three other Chapter secretary abreast of their duties to include one on one training in areas where needed.
While attending Blind Rehabilitation Center in Birmingham, she has recruited 8 new members.
MS Holmes was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Ordnance specialty in 1976. MS Holmes holds many “first”; she was the first female to be commissioned in the Chicago area, first in her university and in the first group of women to attend Summer Camp at FT Riley, Kansas in 1975.
Her first duty assignment was at FT Bliss, TX where she worked as the Assistant Battalion Maintenance Office (S4) and the company executive officer. She later became the Transportation Officer for the 2/52 ADA Battalion. This was a mobile missile company. In 1979, she became the Shop Officer in Korea for the 595th Maintenance Company. Her position included travel throughout Korea visiting supported units. In 1981, MS Holmes was assigned as the S4 Officer in the 701st Ordnance Battalion and later joined the Division Materiel Management Center (DMMC) until her reassignment to the General Staff in Frankfort, Germany. In 1986, MS Holmes was assigned to Foreign Science Technology System (FSTS).
MS Holmes attended both Basic and Advance Ordnance Course during her Army career and Airborne School
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MS Holmes is a retired from the US Postal Service in 2014 due to her loss of sight. During her tenure as a postal worker, she has worked in every craft. She was a member of 4 different Unions with each craft she was worked. While a member of the American Postal Workers Union, she held the position of secretary for 3 years and the State Coordinator for the Post Officer Women for Equal Rights (POWER) representing Georgia at National Conventions.
She retired with 36 years and 1 month federal service.
She is a widow, two grown children, Bianca a registered nurse and Benjamin a Mechanical Engineer and one grandchild, Scarlett. She is on the Mayor Commission for People with Disability Executive Board and attends monthly meetings advocating awareness for the disabled. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Relations and a bachelor in Social Studies from DePaul University, Chicago, IL.
While in Germany, MS Holmes became a member of the Masonic Family holding a position in 5 Auxiliary houses.
In her past time, she crochets blankets and other items for gifts and has donated blankets to the BVAA (silent auction) for the past three years. She also has enrolled in the Hadley School for the Blind to refresh herself in Spanish Conversation and will be taking Excel and braille courses in the near further.
MS Holmes is a member of the National Society of Pershing Rifles since 1975. This is an honor since GEN Colin Powell is also a member of this elite group.
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