South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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Bill 5541


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A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE THE REVEREND DR. ARTHUR HOLMES, PASTOR OF HOLY TRINITY AME CHURCH IN MT. PLEASANT, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS FIFTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY, TO WISH HIM A JOYOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, AND TO THANK HIM FOR HIS THIRTY-THREE YEARS OF SERVICE AS BOTH MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AND EDUCATOR.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are delighted to learn that the Reverend Dr. Arthur Holmes, pastor of Holy Trinity AME Church in Mt. Pleasant, will celebrate his fifty-fifth birthday on September 19, 2020; and

Whereas, the eighth child of Cephus and Julia Holmes, Arthur Holmes was born on September 19, 1965, in the rural area of Hollywood. At the tender age of seven, he joined St. Paul AME Church and over the years sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and participated actively in the youth department of his church; and

Whereas, called to preach in 1983 at the age of seventeen and licensed as a preacher, he grew stronger in the Word, and his preaching and singing were moving and inspirational to many; and

Whereas, an honor student, he completed high school and entered Winthrop University, graduating with bachelor's degrees in both elementary education and philosophy and religion. Later, Dr. Holmes would earn a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, a master's degree in administration (K-12), an educational specialist degree, and a doctorate in ministry; and

Whereas, having completed his undergraduate studies, he returned home and obtained a post as a third-grade teacher on his first interview. With this new job, he began to fulfill his dream of serving as a teacher. With his 1987 ordination in the AME Church as an itinerant deacon and his 1989 ordination as an itinerant elder, he continued the fulfillment of his desire to serve God in ministry. Dr. Holmes received his church assignment in 1987 when he became pastor of the Graniteville Circuit (Aiken and Graniteville); and

Whereas, over the course of his career, he has served as a classroom teacher, math coach, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent of human resources, the latter post from which he retired in 2017 after thirty years of service in public education. However, after one week, he returned to work and currently is serving as an administrator and curriculum specialist at Charleston Development Academy Public Charter School; and

Whereas, the Reverend Dr. Arthur Holmes has served the AME Church in the Charleston District and Edisto District and is presently back in the Mt. Pleasant District; and

Whereas, this community-minded man is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., which he has served in various roles, including as the organization's director of education for its Southeastern Region. He is also a member of the Southeastern Chamber of Commerce, Charleston County Constituent School Board District #23, and Sons of St. Andrews Lodge #385; and

Whereas, he finds strong support in his wife of twenty-nine years, Souvillia Colette Rice Holmes, and their children and grandchildren; and

Whereas, the House is pleased to honor Dr. Holmes at the celebration of his fifty-fifth birthday, and the members join with his family and friends in congratulating him on reaching this joyful milestone. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate the Reverend Dr. Arthur Holmes, pastor of Holy Trinity AME Church in Mt. Pleasant, on the occasion of his fifty-fifth birthday, wish him a joyous birthday celebration, and thank him for his thirty-three years of service as both minister of the gospel and educator.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Reverend Dr. Arthur Holmes.

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