Rachael Francis Montgomery Holmes, a native of Mobile and a longtime resident of Montgomery, departed this earthly life on Monday, June 25, 2012.
She was born on November 13, 1946 to James Hearschel Montgomery and Mary Evans Thomas Montgomery, who preceded her in death. She leaves to cherish her memory: her husband of 46 years, Thomas B. Holmes of Montgomery; one son, Thomas B. (T-Tom) Holmes II of Montgomery; three sisters; Alice (John) Callaway of Palm Bay, Florida, and Martha Manley and Helen Trainor of Mobile; two brothers, James (Beth) Montgomery and Joseph Montgomery of Mobile; one special niece, Brooke (Robert) Roux of Mobile; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was educated in Mobile Catholic schools and Mobile County Public Schools. In 1965, she graduated from Murphy High School. She later completed two years credit toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting at Auburn University Montgomery. She was a 1997 Graduate of Partners in Policymaking of Alabama. She spent her entire working career in bookkeeping and accounting in Mobile, Anniston, Birmingham, and Montgomery. From 1990 to 1995 she served as Parish Secretary at All Saints' Episcopal Church, Montgomery. In 1995 she served as accountant in the Office of National and Community Service of Governor Fob James and from 1996 to 1999 served as administrative assistant in Governor James' Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Office. From 2000 to 2002 she served in the Disability Services Office at Troy State University Montgomery. In 2004 she joined The Arc of Alabama as Volunteer Membership Coordinator where she served until her death. Active Pallbearers will be: William Holmes, Jr.; Austin Key; David Lewis, David Malcom; Timothy McCain; Allan Platt Jr.; Robert Roux; and Michael Smith. Visitation will be at 1:00 P.M. and a Memorial Service at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, July 6, 2012 at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 315 Clanton Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104 with The Reverent Chip Broadfoot, conducting. Visitation will be at 2:00 P.M. and a Funeral Service at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at the Montgomery Hill Baptist Church, Tensaw, Alabama with the Reverend Tony Gibson, conducting. Burial will follow the Funeral Service in the Montgomery Hill (Baptist Church) Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to: The Arc of Alabama, Inc., 557 South Lawrence Street, Montgomery, AL 36104; A local chapter of The Arc; Tukabatchee Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 3067 Carter Hill Road, Montgomery, AL 36111-0106; Delta Gamma Foundation (to benefit service for sight), 4354-A Old Shell Road, PMB 175, Mobile, AL 36608. Funeral arrangements by Radney Funeral Home of Mobile, Martin Powers, Directing.
