Congratulations to Mr. Jimme Holmes Sr., our lead custodian, on his upcoming retirement. As staff and students wrap up school days in December and head home for Winter Break, Mr. Holmes will head home for retirement.
Mr. Holmes is such an important and dedicated member of the Diggs-Latham family. He has worked tirelessly for Diggs Elementary and Diggs-Latham Elementary for a total of 18 years now. Prior to working for the school system, Mr. Holmes worked in security and as a Special Police Officer in Washington D.C. He also has experience as a Maintenance Engineer.
Mr. Holmes was born in North Carolina but left shortly after
High School to live in Washington D.C. Mr. Holmes attended Mebane Elementary
School and Anderson High School. He played football and basketball, even
playing as first string. His team won the championship in football as well. He
also attended Lincoln Tech and the University of Washington D.C. for college. Mr.
Holmes is a Vietnam Veteran and served two and a half years in the Army.
Mr. Holmes has 11 children, 22 grandchildren, and 8 great
grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family as
well as landscaping, cleaning the church, taking walks with his dog, and
playing pool. He also enjoys cleaning his cars, especially his red Corvette.
Mr. Holmes enjoys shopping, sometimes for clothes for himself, especially sweaters,
and for gifts for his young, godson. Mr. Holmes is known for taking things
apart and putting them back together and repairing appliances such as refrigerators
and air conditioners. Mr. Holmes enjoys listening to music while working on
many of his hobbies. He likes all genres of music, especially Jazz, Rock, and
Gospel. He was never a singer, but his mother was the choir director at church when
Mr. Holmes was a child.
Mr. Holmes is a diehard fan of the Washington Commanders
Football Team!
Mr. Holmes shared that he has enjoyed working in the school system. He has enjoyed being around the students, watching them grow up, meeting new people, and learning from the teachers.
The Faculty and Staff surprised Mr. Holmes with a retirement
celebration luncheon. He said, “I thought it was a game at first. I was really
surprised. I had no idea, and I even had to shed a few tears.”
In his retirement, Mr. Holmes plans to continue his hobbies
and especially travel to DC, Atlanta, Baltimore, and other parts of Maryland to
visit family.
Friends and colleagues know Mr. Holmes to be a very caring
person who enjoys spending time with people. Mr. Holmes will be dearly missed.
We thank him for his hard work and dedication and wish him all the happiness
and best wishes in his retirement.
