Cora Bell & Benjamin Taylor Holmes
Biography: written by Glenda Crosby/ 19
as told by Ocie Holmes
[daughter of Ben & Cora Holmes]

Henrietta Daily Free Lance
Monday July 29th 1929
HOLMES FUNERAL HELD
The funeral of Mrs. Cora Bell Holmes 52 years old, of Dewar who died at her home July 28, Was held in her home this afternoon at 4 o'clock Rev William Hodge officiating. Barrio was made in West Lawn Cemetery In charge of the Henrietta Undertaking Company.

● Cora Bell Shrum was the daughter of James & Nancy Rich Shrum..
She met and married Benjamin Taylor Holmes the son of J Carroll & Nancy Webb Holmes.
Ben was visiting his brother Mardy who was married to Lucy Shrum, Cora sister.
On the 9th of Feb 1902 in Okla.
Ben told Cora 'I want to marry you, so he went and found a justice of the peace who married them.

Ben & Cora moved into their home,
and they spent a lot of time back and
forth at Mardy & Lucy's.
J Carroll Holmes. Bens dad,, was a bare-handed Boxer that loved to go to the Marti Gras and town Carnivals to enter the boxing competition's. Ben, learned how to box from his dad.
Alva Holmes was the nephew to "Ben" Taylor Holmes. Alva accidently hit Ben in the head to stop him from stabbing his brother. This happened when a fight broke out between Ben & Roy Holmes, Alvas brother, when Roy sassed his dad.. . Grandma Lucy called for the doctor,, tried to help Ben & sent for her sister Cora. Ben passed away in the hospital ten days later. Alva crawled on his hands and knees to Ben's bedside begging him to forgive him. A trial was held and Alva was cleared of all charges, on self defense. He lived the rest of his life grieving over Uncle Ben and what had happened. He lived for Jesus for the rest of his life.
Cora Bell was my g g grandmother Lucy's sister. Aunt Cora would take blankets to the cemetery and cover Ben's headstone.She was afraid he would get cold in the snow. She passed away in her home, 1mth & 3 days after Ben's death

The following was sent by Cora and Bens grandaughter Glenda Holmes Crosby.
(Ocies daughter)
MAMA WOULD TELL US WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DAY GRANDMA DIED. SHE WAS LAYING IN HER BED. EVERYONE THAT WAS THERE WAS IN THE ROOM WHERE GRANDMA WAS AT. THERE WAS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. SOMEONE WENT TO ANSWER IT, THERE WAS NO ONE THERE. IN JUST A FEW MINUTES THERE WAS ANOTHER KNOCK ON THE DOOR. SOMEONE WENT TO ANSWER THE DOOR AGAIN, THERE WAS NO ONE THERE. THERE CAME A THIRD KNOCK AND SOMEONE STARTED TO GET UP AGAIN, GRANDMA TOLD THEM THAT NO ONE WAS AT THE DOOR THAT IT WAS JESUS STANDING AT THE FOOT OF THE BED WITH PAPA "THAT'S WHAT SHE CALLED GRANDPA". LEON, AND WILLIAM were standing with them, AND THAT JESUS' FACE WAS SO BRIGHT THAT YOU COULDN'T SEE IT. HE WAS TELLING HER THAT IT WAS TIME FOR HER TO COME HOME AND THEN SHE RAISED UP HER HANDS SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND SHE DIED. LEON AND WILLIAM WERE THEIR SON'S THAT DIED IN 1916 IN ARKANSAS OF PNEUMONIA