Jo Ann Brubaker Holmes

Jo Ann (Brubaker) Holmes was born October 9, 1941, in Iowa Park, TX, to William B. and Maggie B. Brubaker and died on June 4, 2026 of natural causes and peacefully at home…where she wanted to be when her time came…she usually got what she wanted…was an accomplished schemer and always thinking.

Jo Ann was an exceptional student and athlete - well ahead of her time in those regards. For instance, she was the Valedictorian of her senior class, a National Merit Scholar, and two-sport letter winner in both volleyball and basketball. When she later met James Holmes, it didn’t take long for them to make the leap to marriage and build a family of six J’s. While Jo Ann held several jobs over the years, she will likely be most remembered as a long-time rural mail carrier in Claiborne Parish, LA…and every day was an adventure on her route with lots of time to ponder on things.

Jo Ann was learned and endlessly curious: she was nearly unbeatable in Scrabble, knew many musical artists and their works, and passed on that love for music to her kids. She was a whiz with numbers and accounting, well-read, a great cook, hard worker, devoted mother and wife, and couldn’t give the grandkids enough Blue Bell ice cream. Even the friends of her children adored and appreciated her welcoming and caring spirit. While she and Poppa Jim didn’t necessarily broadcast it, we knew they were generous to many others during the course of her life and especially liked to help make the lives of children better.

Jo Ann (Momma Jo) is survived by her husband of 64 years, James (Poppa Jim) Holmes; four children - Jeff (Monica) Holmes, Jennifer Murphy, Jordan (Debbie) Holmes, Janna (Robert) Traylor; seven grandchildren - Chesley (Audrey) Murphy, Walker (Kathleen) Holmes, Jewel Murphy, Jared Holmes, Davis Holmes, Grady Holmes, and Lydia Traylor; four great-grandchildren - Olivia, Isaac, Jordyn, and Violet; and her brother, William (Bill) Brubaker.

She is preceded in death by her “blue-eyed Texas grandchild,” Luke Traylor; brother - Milton Brubaker; and sisters - Mildred Roach and Billie Frances Murray.

Under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home, a visitation will be held at 9 AM, Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Lisbon United Methodist Church, 20048 Hwy 2, Lisbon, LA, followed by a memorial service at 10 AM. Following the memorial service, a graveside service will be held at Sharon Baptist Church, 2769 LA-152, Dubach, LA.

Pallbearers will be Chesley Murphy, Walker Holmes, Davis Holmes, Grady Holmes, Cedric Lewis, and David Strahan.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to either the Lisbon United Methodist or Sharon Baptist Churches’ cemetery funds.

Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Homer Chapel (318) 927-6110