Willie Arnold Holmes

ALBANY, NY - Willie Arnold Holmes, age 56, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 13, 2020. Arnold was born on Tuesday, July 23, 1963, at 9:10 p.m. at The Leonard Hospital in Troy, New York, the second son of Willie "Dub" and Virginia "Bay" (Plowden) Holmes.

At a young age, Arnold attended the Wildwood School in Schenectady, New York, a school that services children and adults who are on the autism spectrum or have other special needs. While in the third grade at the Wildwood School, teacher profile abstracts stated, "Arnold's phonics and spelling skills were considerably above his current level", "has very little difficulty recalling facts", "strong and highly motivated", "exhibits great talent, insight, and humor when creating books", and "extremely creative." When they realized Arnold's high I.Q., he was mainstreamed and later attended School 2 in Troy, New York, to continue his elementary education. Upon completion of his elementary education, Arnold was accepted and attended LaSalle Institute on scholarship for the seventh and eighth grade. Unfortunately, due to other students bullying and teasing him daily, his parents decided to remove him and allowed him to attend his high school years at Troy High School.

Arnold would always be seen out and about in Troy and Albany. He was STRONGLY independent and walked and rode the bus wherever he went. His favorite place to be was at the Troy Public Library. Arnold's brain was a computer and if he knew you, he remembered you. He was a genius. His conversations were short and to the point. He always ended with, "okay, bye."

Arnold was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Troy, New York, where he was baptized at the age of 13-years-old on April 18, 1976, under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Allen A. Stanley.

Arnold was active in Sunday School and when he was 14-years-old, he was a student in Mrs. Betty Murray's Intermediate Sunday School class. Mrs. Murray said that she loved Arnold and that he was the BEST reader in her class. Arnold was also active in the Bethel Baptist Church Youth Choir under the guidance of Rudolph Stinney and Keith Stinney. The story is told that while the youth were singing, Rudolph heard a voice that sounded like no other. Rudolph realized that this magnificent singing voice was coming from Arnold, who was standing in the back of the group. He pulled Arnold to the front of the group and had him sing solo.

Arnold was currently employed at Northeast Career Planning as a Production Floor Planner and worked there for many, many years. To them, he was Willie, and all that came in contact with him, loved him dearly.

To continue to cherish his memories, Arnold is survived by his parents, Willie and Virginia Holmes of Troy, NY; two brothers, Dannie Leon (Kim) Holmes of Omaha, Nebraska, Russell James (Phyllis) Holmes of Charlotte, North Carolina; one sister, Ava Maria Holmes of Troy, New York; three uncles, Nathaniel (Martha) Plowden of Atlanta, Georgia, George (Dorothy) Plowden of Macon, Georgia, Lawrence Holmes of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Albert Simmons of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and many, many, cousins.

Arnold was predeceased by his grandparents, George and Lucille (McDonald) Plowden and Zackie and Dorothy (Corbitt) Holmes; uncles, Clinton Louis Plowden and Nollie Holmes; aunts, Louise Alberta Plowden Thomas, Eula Mae Holmes Dukes, and Lindsay Holmes Simmons.

Calling hours will be held on Friday June 19, 2020 from 10:00am-11:00am at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 181 Troy Schenectady Road, Watervliet, New York 12189. A funeral service will begin at 11:00am at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Elmwood Hill Cemetery in Troy, NY. Gathering size, within our chapels will be based on the most current NYS occupancy requirements. Masks are required, and social distancing is to be observed inside and outside of our chapels.