William David Holmes

William David Holmes, beloved son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, born on May 21, 1997, in Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away on July 15, 2025, in Clayton, North Carolina. He is survived by his parents and sister, David and Jennifer Holmes, and Emma Holmes (Raleigh, North Carolina), grandparents Bill and Ione Bezzant (Lehi, Utah), Cindy Chadwick (Salt Lake City, Utah), and Susan Reed (Murray, Utah), aunts and uncles: Susie Bezzant (Lehi, Utah), Amy and Damon Ogle (Eden, Utah), Jennifer and Brent Lloyd (Massillon, Ohio), Beka Walton (Sandy, Utah), Kelly Madsen (Price, Utah), and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandfather John Holmes, his cousin, Dane, his uncle Brooke, and his aunt Angel.

Will was affectionately called Willie, Big Willie Style, My Man, and Magoo by his family and extended family. He grew up in Lehi, Utah until he moved with his family to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2007. Will enjoyed spending time with family and friends, watching movies with Papa, playing video games, doing karate, joking around, cuddling with his pets, and playing guitar and drums with various bands. All of his teachers in school loved him. He earned his black belt in karate and performed with the demo team at community events.

Will played his first live concert at the Lincoln Theater in Raleigh at age 14. It was a show to raise money for St. Baldrick’s Foundation. He was always proud that he was able to get sponsors to contribute and organize the bands. He enjoyed listening to and playing metalcore, progressive metal, and jazz. He loved playing the piano and creating his own songs.

During his younger years, he attended the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with his family, and as a teenager, he went to seminary. When he was 16, he was able to baptize his grandma Cindy. Though he was not an active member at the time of his death, he often mentioned how he saw the hand of God in his life. One of his greatest accomplishments was becoming a tattoo artist. He did a lot of big pieces and coverups, and even tattooed himself. He worked primarily in black and gray ink, doing blackwork, blackout, and negative space tattoos with single-needle dot and line work. You can view his tattoos on his Instagram: @WarpathTattoo and his Tiktok: @WarpathTattooCompany.

We love and miss you Willie.

Scriptures that have provided us comfort during this difficult time:

Mosiah 16:8, “But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.”

Helaman 14:17, “But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.”

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 11:25, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”