Tennie Bryant Kelly
February 2, 2008
Carthage, NC
Tennie Bryant Kelly, age 88.9, of Carthage died Saturday (February 2, 2008) at First Health Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.
A celebration of life service will be held 3:30 PM Tuesday at White Hill Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Brown Patton, Dr. Lee Gallman, Jr., and Rev. Bob Carpenter officiating. Following the service, the family will receive friends at the home of Carol Kelly, 700 Spring Lane, Sanford.
A native of Moore County, Mrs. Kelly was a daughter of the late R. E. and Ida Maude Key Bryant. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, James W. "Boot" Kelly in 1991, and a son, Don K. Kelly, who died November, 2007. She was a member of White Hill Presbyterian Church, where she served as President of the Women of the Church, belonged to various circles of the church, and was Vacation Bible School leader for many years. She graduated from Cameron School, where she was awarded a merit scholarship to Meredith College, 1937. Mrs. Kelly was the first female to serve on the Board of Education for Moore County Schools, where she was instrumental in the consolidation of schools and the selection of the name and site for Union Pines High School. She worked for Moore County Libraries, drove the bookmobile, and was employed as a bookkeeper for Moore County Tobacco Cooperative.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory daughters Dixie Leathers (Gordon) of Richmond, VA; Carol Kelly of Sanford; son James W. Kelly II (Gwen) of Chippewa Falls, WI; daughter-in-law Suzanne B. Kelly of Richmond, VA; sisters Rose Denny of Greensboro, Mildred Russell and Ruth Barger, both of Carthage, Wilma Turberville of Milton; brothers Billy Bryant of West End, Frank Bryant of Carthage and Charles Bryant of Aberdeen; grandchildren Christopher Kelly, Tracey (Sean) Bowyer, Travis Groome, Scott (Ashley) Kelly and Lisa Kelly; great-grandchildren Jackson and Nicholas Bowyer; Jada, Colton and Tyler Kelly.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to White Hill Presbyterian Church, 3335 White Hill Road, Sanford, NC 27332.
Carol and Dixie,
I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my prayers. Thank you for letting me take care of your mother while she was a patient at St. Joseph of the Pines. She touched my heart with her beautiful smile and made a foot print in my life
It has taken me two weeks to even try to write anything here. As many times as Mema said that she was ready when God called, and as much as I tried to be ready for the day that she would no longer be here; that day has passed and it is one that I am still