Bert W. Holmes, Jr., M.D.

BERT WELLINGTON HOLMES, JR., M.D. (Ret. Brigadier General), was born August 9, 1939, in the Berkley Section of Norfolk, Virginia, to Ruth Hicks Holmes and the late Bert Wellington Holmes, Sr. He learned the meaning of hard work and discipline at an early age with the examples set by his parents and grandparents. Bert graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, VA, Virginia State College (University) in Petersburg (B.S. and M.S.), Howard University College of Medicine (M.D). In 1964, upon graduating from Virginia State University ROTC, Bert was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the army infantry branch. His initial active duty assignment was in the 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Lewis, Washington, where he served as a platoon leader and company commander. After successfully completing his military active duty commitment 1966, Bert returned to civilian life in the Hampton Roads Area as a science and biology teacher at Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, and pursued a master’s degree at Virginia State University. At the same time, his military career continued in the U.S. Army Reserve with service in the 80th Division Training in Virginia, where he was a company commander.

In 1970, Bert and his family moved to Washington, D.C. where he began studies at the Howard University College of Medicine. Upon graduating in 1974, he began a residency in Family Practice, but he ultimately chose to pursue a career in the specialty of Urology. His urology residency was completed in 1980 at Howard University College of Medicine. In the following year, he returned to Virginia and established his private medical practice in Norfolk. During subsequent years, Bert was a urologic surgeon and an attending physician at Norfolk Community Hospital, Chesapeake General Hospital, and served as the Deputy Chief of Urology at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Norfolk. During his private practice years, he co-authored and published a challenging medical case which was reported in the Urologic Radiology (1988), entitled “Bilateral Ectopic Pheochromocytomas: Computed Tomographic and Sonographic Correlation.” Bert appreciated the rigor and discipline required in the military and remained committed to serving his country. Consequently, in later years, he returned to military service and joined the 11th Special Forces Support Detachment Services as the Medical Detachment Commander. He further served with the 100th Station Hospital Service as the Executive Officer. As a Senior Flight Surgeon for the Army National Guard, Bert was selected for the position of State Surgeon where he served for eight years. During this time, he was instrumental in helping to develop the Medical Field Service School for the Virginia National Guard. This school was an essential training program for preparing medical personnel for the multiple tasks they were required to perform. In 2000, Virginia Governor James Gilmore appointed him to the position of The Assistant Adjutant General for the State of Virginia and promoted him to the rank of Brigadier General in the Virginia National Guard. With this appointment, he
became the first African-American appointed to this position, retiring in 2005. He served on the Virginia War Memorial Board for more than a decade, with the most recent appointment in 2014 by Governor Terry McAuliffe. In 2017, he submitted his retirement from the board. In the later years of his medical career, Bert served as Director of the Hampton University Health Center and became the first Executive Director of the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI). After leaving this position, he continued as the Physician Liaison for the HUPTI. Always focused on the health and well-being of the community, he dedicated his time to providing medical care and counsel to Hampton University students and proton therapy patients. He was a strong advocate and spokesperson for educating the public about the benefits of the latest cancer-fighting technologies and effective options for advancing patient care. From the academic to the pursuits of leisure and artistic endeavors, Bert enjoyed a full spectrum of life. He was a talented artist, helicopter and fixed-wing pilot, all of which demanded his dedication to developing fine skills and technical precision. He enjoyed music and was proud to have played first chair clarinet while a student at Booker T. Washington High School and Virginia State University. Playing the clarinet, enjoying both classical music and jazz, reading, cooking his special barbecue, and deep-sea fishing were his favorite pastimes. Above all, he delighted in spending time and sharing stories with his five grandchildren. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of fifty-three years, Naomi Manigault Holmes, and their three children: Christal Holmes Stinson (Christopher Stinson) of Chicago, IL; Marissa Holmes Rivero (Juan Rivero, Jr.) of Virginia Beach, VA; and Bert Wellington Holmes III, M.D. (Michelle Latham Holmes, M.D.) of Norfolk, VA. He also leaves five grandchildren: Mariah Christa Rivero, Gabrielle Grace Rivero, Evan Christopher Stinson, Brandon Homer Stinson, and Baby Ellis Christina Naomi Holmes; his mother, Ruth Hicks Holmes; his sister, Muriel Holmes Chasten, Ph.D. (William Chasten) and his uncle, Lankford Hicks (Althea Hicks). Bert will be dearly remembered by many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, other
relatives, friends and colleagues.