Claire Anne Coleman Holmes, age 94, of Pine Bluff passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Born at Ruston, Louisiana on September 14, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Eusel Monroe Coleman and Mabel Claire Cahoon Coleman. She spent her early life in El Dorado and then graduated from Fayetteville High School as valedictorian. She then graduated cum laude from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree while being a member of Chi Omega Fraternity.
She married Major Joe “Buddy” Holmes, and they were married for 64 years prior to his death in 2016. After teaching for one year in the Pulaski County Special School District she taught for another two years in Pine Bluff before starting her family. An active parent in her children’s activities, she served as PTA president at Southwood Elementary School and Dial Junior High School.
Claire was very active in community affairs in Pine Bluff and had served as president of the Arts and Science Center Guild, the Three Rivers Audubon Society, and the Notables Symphony Auxiliary. She was also a sustaining member of the Junior League of Pine Bluff and a past regent of the Pine Bluff Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Very interested in genealogy, she was a member of the Pine Bluff/John McAlmont Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Society of Mayflower Descendants, Colonial Dames of America, the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, and the Daughters of 1812.
She qualified for a real estate broker’s license and sold property for three years. She then worked as a legal secretary in her husband’s law practice for many years until retiring in 1990. Together, they managed a timber company, C. & J., Inc. of which she became president after his death. Claire was also recognized in the Registry of America’s Outstanding Professionals in 2001-2002 and in Who’s Who in Finance and Industry in 1989-1990.
She was a longtime member of First Methodist Church of Pine Bluff where she was a past president of the United Methodist Women, who honored her with a life membership. An avid Bridge player, she was a member of the Pine Bluff Duplicate Bridge Club and the American Contract Bridge League.
Survivors include her children, David Holmes, Anne Holmes de Noble (Tim), and Bill Holmes (Julie); grandchildren, Pruitt Holmes Coffey (Dylan), Martha Holmes Miller (Jackson), Henry Holmes (Chandler), William de Noble, Henry de Noble, Harris de Noble, Olivia Holmes, Ariel Holmes Yi (Michael), and Forest Holmes; great-grandchildren, Coleman Coffey, Spence Coffey, Sinclair Miller, Whitley Miller, Sutton Holmes, Lachlan Holmes, and Maeve Yi.
Claire’s memorial service will be Saturday, April 18, 2026, 2:30 p.m. in the Chapel of First Methodist Church with Rev. Carlton Cross officiating. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.
Memorials may be made to First Methodist Church, 200 West 6th Avenue, Pine Bluff, AR 71601.
For online condolences, please visit RobinsonFuller.com