Dorothy Lee Holmes

Dorothy Lee Jude was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 17, 1932, to Clark and Martha Jane Crutcher. She and her older sister Ophelia were adopted and raised by the late Reverand Edgar Noble Jude and Jessie Jude. She told of her experiences being raised on the farm, chopping and picking cotton, caring for the animals, and attending church in Jonestown, Mississippi. She accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior in her youth.

In 1951, she met James Holmes at Macedonia Church. They married in Jonestown around 1952. James and Dorothy moved to Pasadena, California in 1953. From this union, they had 7 offspring; James Jr., Anthony, Patricia, David, Mark, Ramona, and Victoria.

Dorothy Lee was a domestic worker for many years, doing housework to help put food on the table, clothes on our backs, and shoes on our feet. She decided to be part of the Home Health Care field where she found her passion by helping others for over 30 years. Her last assignment in Seattle, Washington lasted 18 months which was her best assignment and then she retired in 1996. 

Once she moved to Lancaster, she started going to the Lancaster Senior Center which she enjoyed being around others her age. She loved riding the Access Bus too. Our Queen was always ready to travel wherever and whenever. She loved going to Apollo Park to fish; even though she didn’t catch anything, she always made a friend. She was also known by many names and had a great sense of humor. She’s remembered as beautiful, fun, giving, a great cook, kind, loving, and forthcoming, she never sugar coated the truth, and always shared her experiences with others.

Around the house, she would openly confess her faith and gratitude to God for enabling her to move, and live and breathe. 

Dorothy was preceded in death by James Holmes Sr, 3 children: Victoria, Anthony, and James; Sister: Ophelia Carter, brothers Wilbert and AB Crutcher. She leaves to cherish her memory: 4 offspring: Patricia, David, Mark, Ramona (Claude Son-in-Law), 2 Sisters; Marjorie Young of Carson, CA and Jean Bryson of Memphis, TN and 2 Sister-In-Laws, Minnie Johnson of Chicago, Ill and Phyllis Holmes of Pasadena, CA. She also leaves in her memory 22 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and surrogates that loved her dearly.