Obituary for Mildred Kelley
Mildred Todd Kelley, 90, of Anderson, SC passed away at the Rainey Hospice House on April 29, 2021 while in the loving embrace of her family.
Born in Starr, Mildred was the daughter of the late John William Todd, Sr., and the late Frances Gertrude McMahon Todd.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband James Harvey (Jack) Kelley, daughter Carmen Belinda Kelley Henderson, a son Charles Michael Kelley and her brothers, Junior, Lucius, and Ralph Todd.
She is survived by her sons: James, George, Bob, and David Kelley, 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was a loving wife and a homemaker for 66 years and above all else she put love at the center of her family and home. She enjoyed family gatherings, cooking and staying one step ahead of her children and grandchildren. She surrounded her home with flowers, favored the Iris and was known for her nurturing of the African Violets.
The kitchen table was her alter at home and she knew the best way to your heart was through some of your favorite dishes. She firmly believed in the principle " Full Table-Full Heart". We all remember the sustenance in the counseling, teaching, listening, and confessions as well as the meals that were served there.
For her, home economics embodied her day-to-day life, and it was often said that she knew thrift and could do a lot with little. She was characterized by others as, "that sweet lady", "a true friend", "a Godly woman", "thrifty", "caring", and "giving". Many called her "selfless", "generous - though she had little", "amazing cook - Queen of the Coconut Cake", "tough as nails", "a trooper", "strong and tenacious", and the one she would most approve, "welcoming - from the flowers outside to the hugs and the pies".
Mildred was very crafty which she learned from her mother and grandmother. She used her hands through generations to not only prepare food but to grow and preserve it, to make quilts, dresses, mend jeans, create art in embroidery, knit and bracelets.
Later in life she got a job in alterations at Belk’s department store. She quickly moved into the children’s department where she worked for more than 20 years using her experience with home and family to make many new friends and help others with their children’s clothing needs.
We all remember her loving, trusting, and giving spirit but she was also a daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother and it was often said "there must be a special place in heaven for a woman like her." Bless your heart sweet lady as you abide in that place today.
She was a member of Homeland Park Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at M.J. " Dolly" Cooper Veterans Cemetery at 2:00pm on Thursday, May 6, 2021, with Rev. James Strickland officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Callie and John Rainey Hospice House, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com.
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER
Born in Starr, Mildred was the daughter of the late John William Todd, Sr., and the late Frances Gertrude McMahon Todd.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband James Harvey (Jack) Kelley, daughter Carmen Belinda Kelley Henderson, a son Charles Michael Kelley and her brothers, Junior, Lucius, and Ralph Todd.
She is survived by her sons: James, George, Bob, and David Kelley, 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was a loving wife and a homemaker for 66 years and above all else she put love at the center of her family and home. She enjoyed family gatherings, cooking and staying one step ahead of her children and grandchildren. She surrounded her home with flowers, favored the Iris and was known for her nurturing of the African Violets.
The kitchen table was her alter at home and she knew the best way to your heart was through some of your favorite dishes. She firmly believed in the principle " Full Table-Full Heart". We all remember the sustenance in the counseling, teaching, listening, and confessions as well as the meals that were served there.
For her, home economics embodied her day-to-day life, and it was often said that she knew thrift and could do a lot with little. She was characterized by others as, "that sweet lady", "a true friend", "a Godly woman", "thrifty", "caring", and "giving". Many called her "selfless", "generous - though she had little", "amazing cook - Queen of the Coconut Cake", "tough as nails", "a trooper", "strong and tenacious", and the one she would most approve, "welcoming - from the flowers outside to the hugs and the pies".
Mildred was very crafty which she learned from her mother and grandmother. She used her hands through generations to not only prepare food but to grow and preserve it, to make quilts, dresses, mend jeans, create art in embroidery, knit and bracelets.
Later in life she got a job in alterations at Belk’s department store. She quickly moved into the children’s department where she worked for more than 20 years using her experience with home and family to make many new friends and help others with their children’s clothing needs.
We all remember her loving, trusting, and giving spirit but she was also a daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother and it was often said "there must be a special place in heaven for a woman like her." Bless your heart sweet lady as you abide in that place today.
She was a member of Homeland Park Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at M.J. " Dolly" Cooper Veterans Cemetery at 2:00pm on Thursday, May 6, 2021, with Rev. James Strickland officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Callie and John Rainey Hospice House, 1835 Rogers Road, Anderson, SC 29621.
A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com.
THE STANDARD CREMATION & FUNERAL CENTER