Holmes Phillips

Marlan Holmes Phillips, Jr., age 83, of Jonesboro, AR passed away on May 26, 2024 from vascular dementia. Holmes was born on October 25, 1940 in Paragould, AR to Marlan and Inez Phillips.

After Holmes graduated from Paragould High School, he went on to receive a Bachelor degree in accounting at Arkansas State College.

Holmes met the love of his life, Darlene Wince, in Walcott, AR where Holmes worked as a lifeguard at Crowley’s Ridge State Park. Holmes and Darlene were married in 1960 and had two children, Debbie and Pam.

Holmes and Darlene moved to West Memphis in 1969 where Holmes worked for TVESCO in Memphis as a computer programmer.

When Holmes retired, he finally got the opportunity to explore his hobbies. He had many hobbies over the years including organic gardening before it was a thing, welding, buying a tractor and two backhoes to see if he could take them apart and put them back together (yes, he did!), photography (built a darkroom in the house) and his last hobby was woodworking. Holmes loved to figure out how things work. Just ask him to fix it and he most likely knew how or would figure it out. You could often hear him singing at the top of his lungs while he worked alone in his shop. His daughter, Pam might be the one who studied the technique of singing but it was Holmes that knew to sing for fun.

Holmes was predeceased by his parents Marlan and Inez Phillips, and his daughter Debbie Phillips Griggs (2003) and his beloved canine friends, Paco and PJ.

He is survived by his loving wife, Darlene Phillips, his brother, Thomas Melton Phillips, his daughter Pam Phillips and her husband, George Barker; grandson Phillip Griggs, his wife, Meghan, daughter Shelbi Griggs and step-son, Adam Sorrell; granddaughter Danielle Griggs, her son, Konner Cartwright and his daughter, Autumn.

Services will be held at Emerson Funeral home in Jonesboro, AR on Sunday June 2, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. and burial following the service at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Walcott, AR. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service starting at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Greene County Animal Farm at 1711 Paragould Plaza #6132, Paragould, AR 72450. This is a no-kill animal shelter that Holmes has supported for a number of years. Or please consider a donation to an animal shelter of your choice.