Beverly Holmes

Beverly Elizabeth Christine Smith was born at the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Houston’s Historic Fifth Ward, Texas on January 11, 1956 to the parents of McKinley Smith and Hallie Alford Smith. She was the first-born daughter, joining her older brothers, Bennie & Chalmers. The family soon moved to the Piney Point Community where she spent her formative years. Shortly afterwards, her sisters, Naomi, Siggie and Jan added to the growth of the family. A sisterly bond was forged and remained close-knit throughout time. They became each other’s best friends.

Growing up in Piney Point, she attended HISD schools: Piney Point & R.W. Emerson Elementary Schools, T.H. Rogers & Sharpstown Junior High Schools, and graduated in the class of 1974 of Houston Technical Institute “HTI” (formerly, San Jacinto High School). While working full-time, she continued her education, entering Texas Southern University and graduating in 1995 from the University of Houston earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.

Beverly worked for many years during her employment career in the Oil and Gas Energy Sector as an accountant. In 2010, she took a medical leave from Occidental Petroleum Corporation “OXY.” There she developed close friendships with many of her colleagues. Concurrently, Beverly was a successful entrepreneur, owning and operating a tax preparation business, namely Tax Smart Accounting Services. She had strong work ethics that were unmatched and had a long and loyal list of clients.

Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church holds a lot of memories – including her spiritual birth and youth participation, in which she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was baptized and actively involved through the years at PRMBC under the leadership of the late Pastor C.G. Wilkins. On December 1, 1979, Beverly Smith united in Holy Matrimony with Walter Kenneth Holmes, who quickly legitimized his relationship and role in their lives and became a loving step-father to her young son, Korey Allen Reed. To their union, one son, Nicholas Ryan Holmes was born as a welcomed addition to the family. While a member of PRMBC, Beverly actively served in the Junior Mission, Sisterhood, General Missionary Society, and she also participated in many programs. When Bro. Walter K. Holmes was ordained as a Deacon, she gained the position of a Deaconess and served dutifully on the Spiritual Observation Board. When she served as Sisterhood Chair, she started the inaugural Sisterhood Prayer Retreat, a tradition that is continued to this day. She was a member of PRMBC for 39 years. Following the demise of Deacon Holmes in 1995, during the church’s building and renovation phrase of the JB Alford Memorial Educational building, a signed piece of illustrated artwork, entitled “Lord Build This House” by a local artist, Mr. Leonard Freeman, was dedicated and gifted to PRMBC by Sis. Beverly Holmes and her sons, Deacon Walter Holmes. In 1999, God directed her path to the vineyard of the Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church under to leadership of Pastor Terry K. Anderson. She actively attended Church School and was active with her Deacon Family Ministry#3, also serving on the Evangelism Team, where she received her certification, until her health no longer allowed her to participate. Despite many health challenges, she persevered through life’s difficulties; and although Bev’s body grew weak, her faith in God remained strong. She never complained and always endured with grace.

Beverly always displayed a pleasant attitude and a bright, contagious smile, and she was known for her uncanny sense of humor. She loved to play a good game of dominoes, delighted in travel both domestically & internationally, enjoyed high fashion, wore stylish hats and clothing coordinated by matching her jewelry, shoes, and purses. She was always dressed to impress. Bev wore the best perfumes. She gave an air of sophistication, even “bougie”, as we often playfully referred to her and her extraordinary style. Just as her personality was bright, radiant, and bold, so is yellow, her favorite color. Thorough the years, Bev enjoyed the love and togetherness of the family bond that came with coming out to the annual Smith Family Reunion, as well as the Piney Point Kinfolks and Friends Annual Reunion.

In her earlier days, Beverly dedicated time to community service, as she was a member of the Grand Order of Court of Calanthe of Texas, and she volunteered with the NAACP Houston Branch-ACT-SO scholarship awards.

She enjoyed a great friendship and special bond with Janet Kay Ingram Howard, Vanessa Bolden, her many clients, and former co-workers. Simply because of the love for Beverly, she and her former co-workers formed a friendly support group, and named it, Sisters with a Purpose “SWAP”, and Bev eagerly traveled along when she was willing and able, and they in-turn visited and cared for Beverly in her time of need. Another honorable mention was a willing spirit and an extraordinary helping hand, as she was always available when needed, was our dear sister friend, Loretta Wilks. A lifetime of friendship is priceless.

Beverly peacefully entered eternal rest on Sunday, August 2nd, 2026. Her enduring strength, love of life, and uplifting faith will remain in our hearts forever. She is in God’s care.

She is preceded in death, yet reunited in Glory with her: beloved husband, Deacon Walter Holmes; cherished son, Korey A. Reed; precious granddaughter, Sierra Leone Reed, loving parents McKinley Smith and Hallie Alford Smith, and both brothers, Bennie Beal, Jr. and McKinley Chalmers Smith.

Beverly Smith Holmes will forever be lovingly remembered in the hearts of her son and daughter-in-law, Nicholas “Nick” Holmes (Ashley); great grandson, Kayson D. Reed; her sisters, Naomi Smith Patterson (Joseph), Signora Smith Simmons (Milton), and Joycelyn “Jan” Smith; nieces, ShaVondra Love and JaDa Johnson; nephews, Bennie Beal III, Lacey Kirk Haney, Jr., and David McKinley Johnson; special great niece, Briana Myles; God children, Erica Jackson and David McKinley Johnson; and a host of first cousins, extended relatives, friends, and her Lilly Grove Church family.