Bessie S. Allen-Holmes was born January 14, 1957 to the late Deacon Allen and Deaconess Dorothy Stephens in Saint George, South Carolina. She passed to her Heavenly Reward quietly on August 11, 2016. She was joined in matrimony to Larry Holmes of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina on June 12, 1999.

Bessie taught and prepared four and five year old for kindergarten as an early childhood educator with Charleston County School District, Charleston, South Carolina. Bessie was educated in the public school system of Dorchester County graduating with honors at St. George High School, St. George, SC. She also attended South Carolina State University in 1975, choosing a major in her favorite field of study, Family and Consumer Sciences Education.

From the time she was a child, Bessie proved that she had a unique and amazing talent and gift for sewing and designing clothes attire. She was always creating something artistic, always having a sketching pad and designing clothing outfits. Bessie with an eye for fashion, she learned to sew at a very young age. She accounted her talent for sewing the most beautiful fashions from her Mother, the late Dorothy Stephens. She would stay up late at night sewing when everyone else was asleep. She planned and presented fashions shows and special promotion events while serving as an agenda consultant for Stein Mart. With Wando High School, she entered the students in fashion competitions at the local and national level and won one at the local and national level. Bessie designed a fashionable clothing line for women; it was her finale project prior to her illness.

She graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. She taught at several high schools always leaving a major impact with her students, everywhere she taught. In her major field of study, Bessie taught at several high schools, to include Sparta High School, Sparta, GA, Burke High School, Charleston ,SC and she was nominated as "Teacher of the Year" for Burke High School in 1999. Wrapping up a 23 year successful tenure at Wando High School, Mt. Pleasant, SC, Molly M. Spearman, State Superintendent of Education, recognized Bessie S. Allen-Holmes as a devoted public servant in education. Bessie retired from the State of South Carolina Department of Education in June 2016 for her devoted service to the children of South Carolina and for invaluable contributions to public education.

Bessie was one high achiever, and loved challenges, and when a student on campus at South Carolina State University, challenged her once, that she could not reigned as Queen, it motivated her to follow her dreams with determination. During her competition speech, she won by a land slide when she emphasized that she being the first woman to compete of a darker hue was a phenomenal woman, without "peach colored" skin and shoulder length hair, it rocked the entire audience. Bessie picked up the mantle, and reigned as Queen, as Miss South Carolina State University in 1978-1979. She appeared in Ebony Magazine as part of their April's feature of College Campus Queens and Vie South Magazine, November Issue.

Bessie believed in sisterhood, and was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Gamma Xi Omega of Alpha Kappa Alpha Chapter (downtown Charleston Chapter), Charleston, South Carolina. Bessie strongly believed in the goals of providing opportunities to help and develop others.

Bessie accepted the Lord as her personal Savior at an early age. She was a faithful member of Good Hope Baptist Church of St. George, SC under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Samuel B. Marshall. She loved God, and also served as a devoted member with Royal Missionary Baptist Church, Charleston, SC until reuniting with Central Baptist Church, Charleston, SC. Bessie was a devoted wife, mother, sister, and friend who gave all she had to all she knew. She never met a student that did not impact her life! She always remembered what she set out to do. Sitting still was not her nature. Bessie's favorite scripture was Psalm 91, "the Lord is my refuge and my fortress".

Bessie's hobbies reflected her love for Fashion Networks, and watching the Garden Network. She never hesitated to travel the highways to visit her children, family, friends and loved ones.

She leaves to treasure her memories her loving husband, Mr. Larry Holmes; devoted children, Randi Imonie Allen of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Bradford Allen of Mt. Pleasant, SC; a stepson, Larry Holmes, Jr. of Teaneck, NJ; stepdaughter, Deja Holmes of Teaneck, NJ; two brothers, Allen J. Stephens of St. George, SC and Reverend Terry (Ruth) Stephens of Summerville, SC; three sisters, Reverend Frances (George) Edmonds of Fort Mills, SC, Margaret Stephens of Columbia, MD and Bonnie (Austin) Murray of Hempstead, NY; two aunts, Ruth Joyner of New York, NY and Samella (Reverend Oscar) Odom of St. George, SC; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving relatives and friends.