Winifred A. Stokes Holmes, 86, of Natick died Friday, August 3 at the Eliot Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Facility in Natick after a long battle with diabetes.

Mrs. Holmes was married to the late Leo G. Holmes, a research chemist at the Natick Labs. She lived in Natick with her family during the past 41 years.

Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Joseph R. Stokes and Madeline Clifton Stokes.

She was a graduate of secretarial school. She later worked at Wellesley College at Harambee House, a black student organization at the college. Starting as secretary at Harambee House in 1972, she became assistant director in 1977 and director in 1979 after serving as acting director for four months.

A painter in her own right, Winifred painted still lifes relating to the Vineyard. She won an award for a painting depicting a party held at her summer home on County Road in Oak Bluffs. She was quite surprised but pleased that someone had acknowledged her artistic talent. Winifred also was an accomplished pianist, using this talent as well as painting and many verbal talents to make Harambee House what it is today.

Survivors include her son, Joel C. Holmes; a daughter, Noelle Holmes Ellington; a brother, Joseph Stokes, who is a dentist in California; a grandchild, Kevin Darrin Webster; two great-grandchildren, Kevin Jr. and Synai Alyse; many loving relatives in the Clifton and Jackson families; and many lifetime friends and acquaintances.

Her funeral Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs on Thursday, August 9 at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, Pacific avenue, Oak Bluffs.

A visitation period prior to her mass will begin at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Oak Bluffs.