William S. Holoman, Jr.

William Samuel Holoman, Jr., 91, of General Mahone Blvd, Ivor, Virginia, transitioned on Friday, January 24, 2025 at his residence. William Samuel Holoman Jr. was born to the late Annie Mae Coleman Holoman and William Samuel Holoman Sr. on March 3, 1933, in Ivor, Virgina. He was the oldest of his siblings, twin sister Annie Mae, younger brother James and younger sister Verna. On Friday, January 24, 2025, our Heavenly Father called William home for eternal restat his residence in Ivor, Virginia.

William attended school at Crumpler Crossing and Hayden High School. He graduated from Hayden High in 1951. Following high school, William moved to Norfolk, Virginia and started working at the Norfolk Naval Base until he was drafted into the army in 1953 where he served as a paratrooper in the 11 th Airborne division. After completing his service in the army, he returned to Ivor to assist his father on the family farm for a few years until his father decided to retire.

In 1957, William started working at Newport News Ship Building where he was among the first Black Americans to attend the Apprentice School and received his certification as pipefitter first class. In 1966, William left Newport News Ship Building to continue his career at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard where he retired in 1993 as an assistant inspector. After a few months of retirement, William continued to stay busy by driving the activity bus for Southampton County Public Schools. It gave him great pleasure to travel to different places, to attend different sporting events and to interact with the coaches and students. He remained a bus driver until 2009 when his wife’s health issues required extra care at home.

William was a lifetime member of Gilfield Baptist Church in Ivor, Virginia. One of his fondest memories was the days of walking from “Holloman Town” to Gilfield to attend Sunday School and to sing in the choir alongside his mother and father. He enjoyed sharing with family and friends that as a kid his baptism took place in the swamp by Pastor King, before Gilfield had indoor bathrooms and an indoor baptism pool. This Christian foundation led to a lifetime of church service including being a Sunday School Union delegate, choir member, choir president, and a trustee (where he served as chairman of this ministry for many, many years).

William was a proud father and grandfather. He was married to Marjorie Purdie of Ivor, Virginia and from this union two children were born Marvar and Allen. William later married Helen Hunt from Creedmoor, North Carolina where he also had two children, Sherita and Daryl.

William leaves to cherish his memory four children; Marvar Bowman(Stanford Jr.) of Houston, Texas, Allen Holoman (Brenda) of Richmond, Virginia, Sherita Holoman of North Chesterfield, Virgina and Daryl Holoman(Tracey) of Silver Spring, Maryland; two sisters, Annie Mae Gay of Wakefield, Virginia and Verna LaVerne Holoman of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; one brother, James Andrew Holoman of Hampton, Virginia; eleven grandchildren Marshella Williams (Robert Evans), Martinique Collins (Quincy), Marrissa Graham (Lorenzo), Stanford Bowman III, Marlin Bowman, Rasheeda Chambers (Andre`) Samantha Brown, Kimberly Massey, Isaiah Holoman, Tyla Holoman and Daria Holoman; twelve great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. William will also be remembered by a dear friend and companion, Gloria Wright, who brought so much joy to him in the last ten years of his life.

A public viewing will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, 4p.m.-7p.m. in the Melvin Blowe Chapel of Crocker Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held 1:00pm, Friday, February 7, 2025 at Gilfield Baptist Church. He will be laid to rest in the church cemetery. Professional services with dignity have been entrusted to Crocker Funeral Home, Inc.