Born on August 25, 1925 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Doretha B. Holmes was one of eight children.
In 1944, Doretha departed Baton Rouge for Seattle with her husband Mr. James Bell, Jr. and baby boy James Bell, III. Shortly after their arrival Doretha and James welcomed two more sons Charles, Louie and a beautiful daughter, Carol. In 1955, Doretha married the love of her life David H. Holmes to this union they welcomed two children Christine and Larry. In 1978, Doretha along with her husband David welcomed into her life her twin granddaughters, Carol and Christine whom they adopted and raised as their own.
Doretha worked as a Nurse’s Aide for Seattle Children’s Hospital until her retirement. Upon retirement, Doretha desired to continue her work with children and took on part-time work caring for the babies of teen mothers attending parenting classes at Columbia Health Center, Rainier Park Clinic and Odessa Brown Clinic.
Doretha was a faithful member of Mount Zion Baptist Church serving in several ministries and supported many of the outreach programs. She was a member of Women’s Chorus, Sanctuary Choir, Health & Counseling ministry, Mable Harris Circle, Women’s Ministry, volunteered with the Home Bound Feeding Ministry, attended Sunday School and a life member of the National Council of Negro Women.
She was a member of four fraternal organizations – Daughters of Isis Beni Hassan No. 45., Order of the Eastern Star-Jephthah Chapter, Heroines of Jericho-Sarah W. Dupee and Order of the Golden Circle.
Proceeding her in death husband David Henry Holmes, sons Larry D. Holmes, Charles W. Bell, Louie C. Bell. She leaves to celebrate her life daughters Carolyn Bell-Hall, Carol Bell-Daniel (Tyreel), Christine Bell-Holmes, son James Bell III (Carolyn), granddaughters Vina Bruecher, Nicole Bell, Riquelle Johnson, Denika Chatman, grandsons Kameno Bell, Karauki Bell, Marcus Bell, and a host of other great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at Mount Zion Baptist Church on Sat., Jan. 26at 12:00 p.m. and viewing will be held at 11:00 a.m.
