Pastor honored posthumously

January 12, 2011

BY LISA DENEAL, POST-TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT

Leatra Holmes said before her husband’s death, the president of the Gary Frontiers Service Club suggested that he be one of this year’s Marchers for the annual breakfast that honors the late civil rights leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Holmes’ husband, the Rev. Benjamin J. Holmes, died Nov. 22.

Photos of the late Rev. Benjamin Holmes hang on the wall at New Friendship Baptist Church in Gary behind his widow, Leatra Holmes (right), and daughter, Evelyn L. Holmes. The Rev. Holmes will be honored as one of the annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Marchers this year. — Stephanie Dowell/Post-Tribune

“We are very excited to represent him,” Leatra said.

She and their daughter, Evelyn Holmes, a chef at the Genesis Convention Center and one of six children born to the Holmeses, reflected recently on the husband and father who founded New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 52 years ago. Leatra was married to Pastor Benjamin for 57 years, having met him at a restaurant on 19th Avenue and Washington Street.

“I was going to get some ice cream, and we noticed each other,” she said with a laugh.

Evelyn said her father would have been humbled and honored with the Marchers award.

“He truly loved the people and the city of Gary,” she said.

Born in Leslie, Ga., the Rev. Holmes came to Gary in the 1950s and married Leatra in 1953.

Rev. Holmes also worked at U.S. Steel, was a substitute teacher in the Gary Community School Corp. and served as chaplain for the former Gary Steelheads basketball team.

He was affiliated with many groups, including the Northern Indiana Missionary Baptist Educational District Association, Baptist Ministers Conference of Gary and Vicinity and National Baptist Convention, USA.

Article: http://www.post-trib.com/news/neighbors/3014536,06ndm-holmes-0112.article