The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-06
REV. J.E.L. HOLMESDEAD
POUND IN TIE BAH EOoM OF TIE
BAPTIST PARSONAGE

he Fell-ha6 DADAS @NCRA ~ ~ =
Holmes Discovery of Fer husbands
Body-Ihe ad Ending of a Beloved
Pastors Life-The Funeral To-mor-
row.
Rev DR.. J. E. L Holmes is dead
His body was found in the bath room of
the Baptist parsonage, at Drayton and
Jones streets, at 80 o'clock this morning.
ApopIexy caused his death.
DR.. Holmes was apparently in perfect
health up to the time his wife last saw him
alive at 10 O'Clock. He was in his study
preparing his sermon for to-day. and he
told her that he wouldn't be upstairs before
II or 11:SO o'clock
Mrs. Holmes retired at once and about
1850 o'clock awoke. DR.. Holmes was not
in the room, but as his wife saw his CLOTH
ing she knew he had gone to the bath room.
She went to sleep at once and didn't wake
again until l 80 o'clock, when the cries Of
her baby aroused her.
She was surprised not to find her hus-
band, and getting up hastily she went to
tHe DhCh DouAOOut no udNS
retired there, as was his habit
sometimes. Not finding him In the
back room and seeing the bed untouched,
she went to the bath room to see il he was
there. The light was burning brightly and
she knocked on the door and called. No
answer was returned and Mrs. Holmes be-
came frightened and tried to open the door.
1t was not locked, but she couldn't open it
because Of a weight against it. She man
aged to get the door ejar far enough to see
the foot Of her husband In position
which showed her that he was lying on the
the floor.
Thoroughly frightened and fearing the
worst Mrs. Holmes hurried down stairs and
sent her servant across the street for Mr..
Burroughs and Mr.. Guerard. These gentle
men fastened to the house and up to the
bath room. They pushed the door gently
open, thinking that possibly the Clergyman
might be in a stupor.
But the moment they touched him they
saw he was dead.
DR.. Holmes was lying on his back with
his shoulders against the door and his face
turned toward the wall. On shelf along
side Of him was his Bible and on the edge of
the bath tub an apple which he had brought
from the library. Everything indicated
that he was preparing for a bath when the
fatal stroke came.
DIR. Holmes body was taken into an ad-
joining room, and Drs. Elliott and Boyd
were sent for in the hope that there might
still be spark of life left. The physicians
responded at once, but their services were
useless, as DR.. Holmes had, they said, been
dead probably two hours when discovered
Mrs. Holmes is almost Frustrated by
the shock She bore up bravely from
the finding Of the body until the physicians
arrived, buoyed up by the hope that little
life might possibly be remaining. but when
the doctors pronounced him dead Mrs.
Holmes gave way to her grief.
DIR. Holmes last appearance in public
gathering, other than in his week day
church meetings. was at the st. Andrews
Society banquet last Monday night. He
has been for years an honored guest at the
st. Andrews anniversaries.
DIR. Holmes was one of Savannah's most
beloved pastors. friend to every one, in
the church and out of 1t, true Christian
and a noble man. His works of charity
were many. He organized and
maintained for time the
Duffy Street Baptist church
as a mission of his own church. supporting
the pulpit and aiding the pastor In his
work. He was friend Of the poor at all
times, and many families have shared his
kindly charity.
He was born in Southampton county,
near Franklin, Va. Jan. II, 1916. He
graduated from Richmond College, and
after his graduation entered the Baptist
Theological Seminary at Green
vile, s. c., where he graduated
and was ordained to the ministry.
His first church was at Danville, Va,
where he remained until October, 1881.
when he was called to the Savannah Bap-
fist church to succeed Rev. DR.. Landrum.
DR.. Holmes was twice married. His first
wife was daughter of DIR. @. j. Hudnall
of Brookneil, Va. She died in Savannah n
year after coming here. leaving a little
daughter. A year ago last April be mar
ried Miss lowering of Baltimore. DR..
Holmes leaves, besides a widow and daugh-
ter. a little son months old. He had two
sisters in Virginia and one in North Caro-
lima.
DR.. Holmes Is the first pastor the Sa-
vannah Baptist church has lost by death.
and his demise will fill many hearts with
sadness to-day. AS pastor he was greatly
beloved by his congregation, and
he was endeared to hundreds outside of his
church. He was an able scholar and had
deep interest in educational matters. The
title of Doctor of Divinity was conferred