Ira Jean Holmes Clemons

Ira Jean Holmes Clemons lived life boldly on her own terms. Her disability did not define her, and her wheelchair could not confine her. With a strong will that served as her superpower, she embraced every chapter with determination and grace.

Born on July 27, 1945, at high noon to Will and Claudia Holmes in Yorkville, Georgia, Ira graduated from Matthew Consolidated School alongside her brothers and sisters. She became the first in her family to pursue higher education at the Atlanta School of Business, which led to a career in the accounting and ticketing departments of Trailways Bus Company. In Atlanta, she married Rollie Clemons Jr., raised two children, Karl and Penny, and owned a floral shop in the Capitol View neighborhood. She transferred her church membership from Mount Olivet Baptist Church to Poplar Spring United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir and helped establish an annual Church Anniversary celebration.

Ira cherished history and politics, but her greatest pride was her cozy pink and white house at the bottom of the hill, where she lived independently for more than 25 years despite being paralyzed. There she painted landscapes, wrote and illustrated children’s books, created self-esteem board games, helped children with homework, and prepared her famous sweet rice. Known for her quick wit and magnetic storytelling, she could make anyone laugh, offer sharp wisdom in times of trouble, or dazzle with her knowledge of trivia and history. Though she spoke her mind fearlessly in any debate, her faith in God remained unshakable. She often said, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always right on time.”

She is survived by her children, Penny Brown and Karl Clemons; grandchildren Brittany and Karl Clemons Jr., and Nickell, Niko, and Nikiya Brown; great-grandchildren Haleigh and Aubrey Horne and Khamari Clemons; two loving sisters, Shirley Holmes and Irene McCullers; and a host of other relatives and friends. Ira passed away peacefully in a local hospital on March 4, 2026. She is now walking freely once more.