Professional Documents
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ODCL Information: 416 James Street Ozark, Alabama 36360
ODCL Information: 416 James Street Ozark, Alabama 36360
ODCL Information: 416 James Street Ozark, Alabama 36360
Board of Trustees
Chairman Marie Black
Vice Chairman To Be Appointed
Secretary Christina Faulkner
Treasurer Dr. Imogene Mixson
Friends of the Library Liaison Mike Cairns
Library Staff
Director Karen Speck
Gen Lib/Admin Assistant Joni Wood
Processor Kristina Speck
Bookkeeper Debbie Mize
Circulation Clerk Darnell Johnson
Circulation Clerk/IT Andrew Godeke
Children’s Librarian Amber Chancey
Circulation Clerk Alexander Matthews
Custodian Barbara Daniels
Sandra K. Holmes
December 30, 1944 - November 12, 2020
Sandra passionately served our community as the Library Director from 1998-2019.
Dothan… After an extended battle with cancer, Ms. Sandra K. Johnson Holmes, 75,
left this earthly home to join the heavenly hosts on Thursday, November 12, 2020.
A public memorial service will be held at the Ozark Dale County Library in the West
Wing on Tuesday, November 24. at 10:00 a.m. A private family service will be held in the
latter part of Summer 2021, after Sandra’s eldest son returns from deployment.
Born to Lloyd Clarence and Ruby Beatrice Johnson on December 30, 1944, in
Dothan, AL, Sandra graduated from Dothan High School with the Class of 1963. She went
on to the University of Alabama where she earned her undergraduate degree in Education.
She then completed her graduate studies at the University of Southern California in Guidance
and Counseling. While attending college, Sandra married an aspiring educator and
photographer, John Lafayette Selman, Jr. She began her educational career teaching 9th grade
English, Speech, and Social Studies in Hueytown, AL.
In 1970, the couple was stationed in Germany, where they were afforded the
opportunity to travel extensively. Sandra visited over 15 countries in her lifetime, including
Germany, England, Ireland, Denmark, France, Spain, Italy, Romania, Netherlands,
Luxembourg, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and Israel. While living in Germany with her
husband, Sandra taught high school completion courses to servicemen stationed abroad and
taught for Big Bend Community College of Seattle, Washington, and University of Maryland in Germany. Sandra met her second
husband, Daniel Allen Holmes, after her divorce while working at Bremerhaven, Germany, marrying in December 1978.
After returning stateside, Sandra continued her career in civil service working as the Supervisor at the Post Locator in Fort
Rucker until 1991 when she was forced to medically retire because of a brain aneurysm. Despite the doctor’s prognosis that she
would not be capable of returning to work, Sandra applied to the Ozark Dale County Public Library in 1997 out of sheer
stubbornness to prove to herself that she was still capable, earning the position of Administrative Assistant.
Sandra went on to become the acting Library Director in April 1998. Her love of reading and background in education
paired well with her new position. An avid reader, Sandra excelled at selecting materials for the library and its patrons. She was
officially appointed to the position of Library Director in July 1998. She continued to serve in this capacity until her retirement on
June 6, 2019.
During her tenure at the library, Sandra served on the board for the Historic Chattahoochee Commission and as a member
of the Friends of the Ozark Dale County Library. She was involved in numerous civic endowments including Habitat for Humanity
and Make a Difference Day. She was selected as an Empowered Woman of Dale County by Senator Harri Anne Smith and the
Alabama State Senate in August 2001. Her work helped transform the Ozark Dale County Library into a facility open to all people
in Dale County and abroad via online services. Sandra was recognized for her outstanding contribution to the planning and
implementation of Ozark’s 1st Annual Racial Equality Week in 2002. She wrote numerous grants to increase development of the
library. She also partnered with the Fort Rucker Library to secure a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and Institute
of Museum and Library Services, known as the Big Read, bringing together the entire community of Dale County. The library was
awarded an appreciation by the Wiregrass Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution in recognition
for outstanding support of the Books for Veterans program during Sandra’s tenure in 2004. Additionally, during her tenure, the
Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System presented the library with a Volunteers: Exceptional People-Extraordinary Hearts
certificate in recognition of their heartfelt commitment and outstanding contribution to Veterans Affairs and voluntary service in
2012. She worked with Auburn University to develop the Dialogues on the Experience of War program in September 2016.
Aside from her many accolades, awards, and accomplishments, through her service at the library, Sandra was a teacher,
mentor, and, often, a surrogate mother to so many. She gave of herself through her kindness and sage advice, always giving people
a chance, and sometimes a second chance, to learn, grow, and better themselves.
Sandra will be remembered as someone whose kindness shone in her eyes and whose wise advice is irreplaceable. Her absence will
be felt most by her five children, whom she raised to follow their dreams yet remain close in heart to one another and family.
Sandra was preceded in death by her husband of 23 years, Daniel Allen Holmes; her parents, Lloyd Clarence Johnson and
Ruby Beatrice Johnson; three sisters, Barbara Jean Isom, Sherra Ann Kendrick, and Helen Glenda Smith; one brother, Lloyd
Patrick Johnson; and a nephew, Nelson Scott Rooker.
She is survived by her daughter, Karen Selman Speck (David) of Ozark; her four sons, John Lafayette Selman, III (Susan)
of Colman, S.D., James Allen Holmes (Laura Grace) of Dothan, Daniel Patrick Holmes of Mobile, and Justin Clark Holmes
(Kimberly) of Auburn; fifteen grandchildren, Brittany, Kathryn, Heather, Stephanie, Kristina, Laura, Allen, Elizabeth, Trystan,
Merritt, Josh, Tinsley, Reece, Keller, and Elijah; five great-grandchildren, Abigail, Emma, Penelope, Reagan, and Remily; and a
host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Ozark Dale County Library at 416 James
Street, Ozark, AL 36360.
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I am so excited to report that our Santa’s Workshop was a HUGE SUCCESS! We made $409.25 of PURE
PROFIT! Every single thing for this event was donated. We were blessed with a beautiful Christmas tree, money to purchase
refreshments, new and used items to sell, full-size cakes, little Debbie cakes for the kids’ mini cake walk, wrapping paper, tape,
and so many volunteer hours! Our FOL Officers and Friends really stepped it up this time by staying late to help the night before
and then working all day as well. My son and his college friends came and dressed up as Santa, Mrs. Claus, Father Time, and Jack
Frost, who also did magic tricks.
The outpouring of love and support from the Ozark community has been such a great blessing - beyond the donations, we
have also had new members to join and volunteers to step up to help any time we needed them! Our group is thriving and it is
because of the generosity of so many amazing people. It takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to run a
library! Thank you to everyone who helped and supported us.
We are busy planning the most magnificent new year and I hope that each one of you will take the time to be a part of
it! If you would like to be involved, but cannot get out or do not feel comfortable coming to the library, please contact me. I can
tell you how we can use your help from the comfort of your own home!
Happy Holidays!
Amber Chancey, FOL President , Children's Librarian, & Volunteer Coordinator
Ozark Dale County Library, Inc.
416 James Street, Ozark AL, 36360
Please join us at the next FOL meeting on
chlibrary@troycable.net
Saturday, December 12th at 10am.
Work: 334-774-5480
Cell: 334-432-3413
DECEMBER 2020
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