Remembering Chester Holmes!

I met Mr. Chester Holmes many years  ago while visiting my siblings. He had been a household name before and since that time. The last time I saw him, he and his friend had attended Vata's retirement party and then they were in attendance at the church for our concert. He was so happy to be there and also his sister. I have frequently heard of him doing a favor for a family member or walking in the park with Vata. He was so down to earth. Mattie could always count on him for extra work in his security business. I remember that he at one time was raising his granddaughter.  He managed the Bell Sisters at one time and was so happy to be with them. I heard of many things that he did for his community. His life was service driven. May you rest in peace, Chester.  You deserve your rest. Jean Kendrick-Carson, Calif.

http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/2012/12/former_union_county_freeholder.html

http://summit.patch.com/topics/Freeholder+Chester+Holmes+died

http://summit.patch.com/articles/former-four-term-freeholder-passes-away#comment_5888474

Officials Mourn The Loss Of Former Freeholder Chester Holmes

Former Union County Freeholder Chester Holmes, 81, passed away Friday, county officials announced. Holmes, a popular Rahway resident, served four terms as a member of the freeholder board. He was first elected to the board in 1997 and retired at the end of 2009 to devote more time to his private security business, Holmes Security and Investigations Inc.  (From Clark.Patch.com)

Old article about his retirement

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/fourterm_union_county_freehold.html

Obituary January 3, 2013  Star Ledger
http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/starledger/obituary.aspx?n=chester-holmes&pid=162107166&fhid=17088#fbLoggedOut

Chester Holmes

Obituary Guest Book "Mr. Holmes, what a nice kind giving indivusal. Always..." - Pam, (AKA Ebony) View Sign Chester Holmes, 82, passed away on Dec. 28, 2012, at JFK Medical Center, Edison, N.J. The funeral service will be Saturday morning at Second Baptist Church, 378 East Milton Ave., Rahway, starting at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery, Linden, N.J Arrangements are by the Jones Funeral Home, Rahway. Born in Ludowici, Georgia, Mr. Holmes lived in Rahway, N.J. Chester was a self-employed private investigator. He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Rahway. He was also a former Rahway City councilman and freeholder in Union County. Chester is survived by his daughters, Cheryl Rolle and Jackie Holmes; sons, Gerald Holmes and his wife, Dawn, Raymond Holmes and his wife, Nancy, and Marcel Holmes; brothers, Bobby and Paul Holmes; sisters, Emma Mae Salters, Alma Edwards, and Averdell James and her husband, Charlie; his special first lady, Candis Fry; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.