John Holman Cyrus

John Holman Cyrus, 95, of Raleigh died on Friday, January 8, 2016. He was born in the Royal community of Franklin County, North Carolina on August 14, 1920, the seventh of nine children born to the late John Henry and Bettie Hicks Cyrus. He is also preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Anne McAllister Cyrus; brothers William, David, Louis, Melrose, and Charles Cyrus and sisters Doris Cyrus Cottrell, Juanita Cyrus Atkins and Janie Cyrus Tippett Lowe. Holman was raised in a devout home, experienced the joys and trials of Depression-era farm life and was a combat veteran of World War II.

Holman was president of the 1940 graduating class of Youngsville High School and studied at North Carolina State College for two years prior to entering military service in October, 1942. He was one of six sons serving in the military during World War II. He served one year in Headquarters Company, 329th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division and two years in the U.S. Army Air Force, attached to the 719th Bombardment Squadron, 449th Bombardment Group (H), 15th Air Force, based at Grottaglie, Italy from September, 1944 through June, 1945. He flew 42 missions as a bomb togglier/nose turret gunner on board B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, earning the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations Ribbon with four battle stars. The Japanese surrender occurred on his 25th birthday, and he was honorably discharged from military service in October, 1945. He formed life-long friendships with his aircrew and enjoyed participating in reunions of the 449th Bomb Group.

Holman returned to NC State January, 1946 and was employed as an instructor in the Veterans Farm Training Program while in school. He was elected president of the College Chapter of the Future Farmers of America, vice president of Kappa Phi Kappa educational fraternity, and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He earned a degree in Agricultural Education in 1948 and taught high school vocational agriculture in Moncure, NC for a short time. He began his career in the NC Department of Agriculture in May, 1949 as the second tobacco marketing specialist employed by NCDA. After one month at NCDA, he met his wife-to-be, Billie Marie Watkins, who was employed in the Veterinary Division. They were married on February 11, 1950 at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Raleigh. Holman served NCDA for 37 years, retiring in May, 1986 as Program Administrator for Tobacco.

Holman was committed to the success of the tobacco grower throughout his career and was affiliated with numerous state and national agricultural organizations. He served on the board and was Executive Secretary of the NC Tobacco Advisory Council; served as Treasurer of the Tobacco Tax Council; and was a board member on the National Tobacco Education Council; the NC State University Tobacco Foundation; and was consultant to the National Flue Cured Marketing Advisory Committee. He also served on the boards of the Tobacco and Textile Museum in Danville, Va.; the Duke Homestead Tobacco Education Museum in Durham, NC; and the Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly, NC.

Holman received several recognitions for outstanding contributions to the tobacco industry and agriculture. He was recognized in 1969 as Tar Heel of the Week by the News and Observer, which gave him the title of “A Walking Tobacco Encyclopedia”. He received the State’s highest civilian award for public service, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, from Governor Holshouser in1973; the NC Grange Distinguished Service Award in 1978; and was recognized as a “Tobacco Great” by the NCSU Cooperative Extension Service in 2000. Upon retirement from NCDA, Holman was a consultant to the Tobacco Institute in Washington, D.C. and later became a legislative lobbyist and consultant to the NC Grange. He served the Grange in these capacities for almost two decades.

He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of the J.J. Crowder Lodge # 743 and a member of the Scottish Rite and Amran Shrine Temple. He was a member of the Capital Grange. Holman loved the soil and was an avid vegetable gardener for most of his adult life.

After growing up in Flat Rock Baptist Church in Franklin County, Holman became a faithful member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in March, 1950. He served as a deacon for over forty years, obtaining Deacon Emeritus status in 1997. He served his church in many capacities and was a Sunday School teacher for over fifty years. Holman believed in the power of prayer and lived his faith. He was a devoted husband and great role model for his sons.

Holman is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Billie Marie Watkins Cyrus; twin sons, John Michael of Concord and Gary Holman and daughter-in-law Roberta of Raleigh and grandchildren, Emily Cyrus Limbrunner and husband Luke, William Holman Cyrus and wife Alicia, Angela McAllister Cyrus and Rebecca Marie Cyrus. Also surviving are his devoted nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be conducted by the Reverend Dane Hadley at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 8304 Leesville Road on Tuesday, January12, 2016 at 2pm. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 1-2pm at Tabernacle Baptist. Burial, with military honors, will follow the service at Historic Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in the name of Holman Cyrus to Tabernacle Baptist Church, 8304 Leesville Road, Raleigh, NC 27613.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary’s St., Raleigh, NC.