Dora Mae Clay Holmes departed this life Friday, July 12, 2019 in Cleveland, MS. Dora was born April 28, 1928 to the late Willie Glen and Georgia Ann (Hill) Clay in Newnan, GA. She is the fourth of ten children. Dora spent her formative years in Newnan, GA and Alexandria, VA. After graduating from Warner High School, she attended Morris Brown University and later Wilberforce University where she was initiated into Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She graduated from Wilberforce University in 1952 with a B.A. in business.
After graduation Dora moved to Dayton and began her career with Stotts-Friedman working in the accounting department. Unfulfilled, she decided to change her career to education and became a teacher with the Dayton Public School System. She taught at several elementary schools and retired in 1992 from Wogaman Elementary School. Dora touched countless lives over the 30 years she spent as an educator for Dayton Public Schools and active member of the Dayton Education Association.
Dora always cared and loved her family, university, church, and community. As president of Wilberforce University Alumni Association, Dayton Chapter, Dora was instrumental in bringing former Ohio Senator Howard Metzenbaum, former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, Astronaut John Glenn and Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. to Dayton to raise funds for Wilberforce University. Dora and Royal donated generously to the university annually. Due to Dora’s concern about the deteriorating conditions of West Dayton, she subsequently became a member of the City of Dayton Southwest Priority Board. Dora was a member of Greater Allen AME Church, where she served as Chairperson of Christian Education, President of the Courtesy Club, Steward Board and a Stewardess. Always concerned with finances, Dora was elected to the Dayton Area School Employees FCU Board of Directors and member of the MOSES investment club. After retiring from the Dayton Public School System, she mothered her pride and joy, grandchildren, Dionne, Donna Rae and Raymond.
Dora was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Georgia Long, Wilbon Clay, Annie Laura Clay, Glenda Roberts, Francina Alexander, Kearse Clay and Alphonse Clay.
Dora leaves to cherish her memory a beloved husband of 66 years Royal G. Holmes; two devoted and loving daughters, Donna (Raymond) Marsh of Mobile, AL and Vanessa Holmes of Indianola, MS; three grandchildren, Dionne (Calvin) McDonald of Nashville, TN, Donna Rae (Andrei) Edwards of Los Angeles, CA, and Raymond H. Marsh of Mobile, AL; two great grandchildren, Tamryn and Calvin McDonald of Nashville, TN; two sisters, Sara Williams of Newnan, GA and Emma Jean Davis of Atlanta, GA; godson H. Glenn Alexander; lifelong friends Loretta Booker and Virginia Hill; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and devoted friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 26, 2019, 10:30 AM at Greater Allen AME Church, 1620 W. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402, Pastor Elmer S. Martin, M.Div., officiating. Family will receive relative and friends at 9:30 AM at the church. Interment: Dayton National Cemetery.
After graduation Dora moved to Dayton and began her career with Stotts-Friedman working in the accounting department. Unfulfilled, she decided to change her career to education and became a teacher with the Dayton Public School System. She taught at several elementary schools and retired in 1992 from Wogaman Elementary School. Dora touched countless lives over the 30 years she spent as an educator for Dayton Public Schools and active member of the Dayton Education Association.
Dora always cared and loved her family, university, church, and community. As president of Wilberforce University Alumni Association, Dayton Chapter, Dora was instrumental in bringing former Ohio Senator Howard Metzenbaum, former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, Astronaut John Glenn and Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. to Dayton to raise funds for Wilberforce University. Dora and Royal donated generously to the university annually. Due to Dora’s concern about the deteriorating conditions of West Dayton, she subsequently became a member of the City of Dayton Southwest Priority Board. Dora was a member of Greater Allen AME Church, where she served as Chairperson of Christian Education, President of the Courtesy Club, Steward Board and a Stewardess. Always concerned with finances, Dora was elected to the Dayton Area School Employees FCU Board of Directors and member of the MOSES investment club. After retiring from the Dayton Public School System, she mothered her pride and joy, grandchildren, Dionne, Donna Rae and Raymond.
Dora was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Georgia Long, Wilbon Clay, Annie Laura Clay, Glenda Roberts, Francina Alexander, Kearse Clay and Alphonse Clay.
Dora leaves to cherish her memory a beloved husband of 66 years Royal G. Holmes; two devoted and loving daughters, Donna (Raymond) Marsh of Mobile, AL and Vanessa Holmes of Indianola, MS; three grandchildren, Dionne (Calvin) McDonald of Nashville, TN, Donna Rae (Andrei) Edwards of Los Angeles, CA, and Raymond H. Marsh of Mobile, AL; two great grandchildren, Tamryn and Calvin McDonald of Nashville, TN; two sisters, Sara Williams of Newnan, GA and Emma Jean Davis of Atlanta, GA; godson H. Glenn Alexander; lifelong friends Loretta Booker and Virginia Hill; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and devoted friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 26, 2019, 10:30 AM at Greater Allen AME Church, 1620 W. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402, Pastor Elmer S. Martin, M.Div., officiating. Family will receive relative and friends at 9:30 AM at the church. Interment: Dayton National Cemetery.
Dora Mae Clay Holmes departed this life Friday, July 12, 2019 in Cleveland, MS. Dora was born April 28, 1928 to the late Willie Glen and Georgia Ann (Hill) Clay in Newnan, GA. She is the fourth of ten children. Dora spent her formative years in Newnan, GA and Alexandria, VA. After graduating from Warner High School, she attended Morris Brown University and later Wilberforce University where she was initiated into Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She graduated from Wilberforce University in 1952 with a B.A. in business.
After graduation Dora moved to Dayton and began her career with Stotts-Friedman working in the accounting department. Unfulfilled, she decided to change her career to education and became a teacher with the Dayton Public School System. She taught at several elementary schools and retired in 1992 from Wogaman Elementary School. Dora touched countless lives over the 30 years she spent as an educator for Dayton Public Schools and active member of the Dayton Education Association.
Dora always cared and loved her family, university, church, and community. As president of Wilberforce University Alumni Association, Dayton Chapter, Dora was instrumental in bringing former Ohio Senator Howard Metzenbaum, former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, Astronaut John Glenn and Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. to Dayton to raise funds for Wilberforce University. Dora and Royal donated generously to the university annually. Due to Dora’s concern about the deteriorating conditions of West Dayton, she subsequently became a member of the City of Dayton Southwest Priority Board. Dora was a member of Greater Allen AME Church, where she served as Chairperson of Christian Education, President of the Courtesy Club, Steward Board and a Stewardess. Always concerned with finances, Dora was elected to the Dayton Area School Employees FCU Board of Directors and member of the MOSES investment club. After retiring from the Dayton Public School System, she mothered her pride and joy, grandchildren, Dionne, Donna Rae and Raymond.
Dora was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Georgia Long, Wilbon Clay, Annie Laura Clay, Glenda Roberts, Francina Alexander, Kearse Clay and Alphonse Clay.
Dora leaves to cherish her memory a beloved husband of 66 years Royal G. Holmes; two devoted and loving daughters, Donna (Raymond) Marsh of Mobile, AL and Vanessa Holmes of Indianola, MS; three grandchildren, Dionne (Calvin) McDonald of Nashville, TN, Donna Rae (Andrei) Edwards of Los Angeles, CA, and Raymond H. Marsh of Mobile, AL; two great grandchildren, Tamryn and Calvin McDonald of Nashville, TN; two sisters, Sara Williams of Newnan, GA and Emma Jean Davis of Atlanta, GA; godson H. Glenn Alexander; lifelong friends Loretta Booker and Virginia Hill; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and devoted friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 26, 2019, 10:30 AM at Greater Allen AME Church, 1620 W. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402, Pastor Elmer S. Martin, M.Div., officiating. Family will receive relative and friends at 9:30 AM at the church. Interment: Dayton National Cemetery.
After graduation Dora moved to Dayton and began her career with Stotts-Friedman working in the accounting department. Unfulfilled, she decided to change her career to education and became a teacher with the Dayton Public School System. She taught at several elementary schools and retired in 1992 from Wogaman Elementary School. Dora touched countless lives over the 30 years she spent as an educator for Dayton Public Schools and active member of the Dayton Education Association.
Dora always cared and loved her family, university, church, and community. As president of Wilberforce University Alumni Association, Dayton Chapter, Dora was instrumental in bringing former Ohio Senator Howard Metzenbaum, former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, Astronaut John Glenn and Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. to Dayton to raise funds for Wilberforce University. Dora and Royal donated generously to the university annually. Due to Dora’s concern about the deteriorating conditions of West Dayton, she subsequently became a member of the City of Dayton Southwest Priority Board. Dora was a member of Greater Allen AME Church, where she served as Chairperson of Christian Education, President of the Courtesy Club, Steward Board and a Stewardess. Always concerned with finances, Dora was elected to the Dayton Area School Employees FCU Board of Directors and member of the MOSES investment club. After retiring from the Dayton Public School System, she mothered her pride and joy, grandchildren, Dionne, Donna Rae and Raymond.
Dora was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Georgia Long, Wilbon Clay, Annie Laura Clay, Glenda Roberts, Francina Alexander, Kearse Clay and Alphonse Clay.
Dora leaves to cherish her memory a beloved husband of 66 years Royal G. Holmes; two devoted and loving daughters, Donna (Raymond) Marsh of Mobile, AL and Vanessa Holmes of Indianola, MS; three grandchildren, Dionne (Calvin) McDonald of Nashville, TN, Donna Rae (Andrei) Edwards of Los Angeles, CA, and Raymond H. Marsh of Mobile, AL; two great grandchildren, Tamryn and Calvin McDonald of Nashville, TN; two sisters, Sara Williams of Newnan, GA and Emma Jean Davis of Atlanta, GA; godson H. Glenn Alexander; lifelong friends Loretta Booker and Virginia Hill; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and devoted friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 26, 2019, 10:30 AM at Greater Allen AME Church, 1620 W. 5th St, Dayton, OH 45402, Pastor Elmer S. Martin, M.Div., officiating. Family will receive relative and friends at 9:30 AM at the church. Interment: Dayton National Cemetery.
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