TBMB staffer recognized for outstanding volunteer ministry
Elizabeth Holmes was the recipient of the 2025 Robert E. Dixon Award, presented annually for outstanding volunteer ministry. Holmes has served with TBMB since 1986.
FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff member Elizabeth Holmes is the recipient of the 2025 Robert E. Dixon Award, presented annually for outstanding volunteer ministry through Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
The award is named for Dixon, a pioneer whose ministry with Texas Baptist Men, helped spark Southern Baptists’ national DR ministry nearly 60 years ago.
Holmes, administration assistant for Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief, was nominated for the award by Wes Jones, TBDR director.
“Elizabeth has been an incredible asset to Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief,” Jones said. “She has worked mostly behind the scenes for more than 20 years.”
Jones cited Holmes’ organizational skills and the relationships she has developed with Tennessee Baptist volunteers. “She is a great wealth of knowledge to me and many others,” he continued.
“Most people will never know the amount of work she does. “She views her role as her ministry, not as an owner, but as a servant,” he said.
Holmes was scheduled to receive the award during the National Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Roundtable in Ohio in late January, but the event was canceled due to Winter Storm Fern. Instead, Jones presented the award to Holmes on Feb. 12 in front of Tennessee Baptist DR volunteers who were serving in Middle Tennessee.
“That made the recognition even more meaningful,” Holmes said.
Holmes first joined the TBMB (then Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention) in 1986. She served in the Cooperative Program office and later Missions Department.
She was reassigned to the Missions Mobilization Group (which housed DR) in January of 2005 and she began working with disaster relief.
She was introduced to her first large-scale disaster just a few months later (Aug. 29, 2005) when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, marking the start of two decades of DR ministry. Since then, Holmes has assisted in more than 250 disaster relief responses.
Holmes’ lifelong commitment to missions and ministry can be traced to her roots. She grew up in the home of a Southern Baptist pastor (Emery Farmer), who pastored several small churches across Middle Tennessee and later served as director of missions for New Salem Baptist Association before retiring in 1993.
She observed that her work in DR has been the most meaningful chapter of her nearly 40-year tenure with TBMB.
She considers her ministry as a calling and at the heart of that calling is the people, she said.
“I just love getting to know our volunteers and helping them however I can.”
Holmes said DR volunteers have become her extended family. “The sense of community with disaster relief runs deep. When you join TBDR you become a family.”
The bond between her and the volunteers was especially meaningful following the unexpected loss of her husband more than two years ago, she said.
Their dedication is one of the greatest strengths of the ministry. During that season in her life, TBDR volunteers surrounded her with prayer and support. “Their support meant more than I can express,” Holmes said.
She expressed gratitude for being able to serve within TBMB and alongside the volunteers who make up TBDR. “I’m so proud to work in such a wonderful organization and with such an incredible group of volunteers. … I could not do my job without their help in the field.” B&R — Lonnie Wilkey, B&R contributing writer
