Mother Shirley Ann Kelly

Shirley Ann Peace Kelly, the oldest of seven children, was born to the late Elder William Lovelace Peace and Sister Rosa Leana Ellis Peace on February 10, 1939 in Blackstone, Virginia.  She graduated from Luther H. Foster High School in 1957.  Immediately upon graduation, she relocated to Brooklyn, New York where she enlisted in the U. S. Air Force.  While serving at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, she met the love of her life, the late Sergeant Truzell A. Kelly, from the “big town” of Blythewood, South Carolina. They were married for 43 years.   From this union, three children were born. 

In 1967, the Kelly’s relocated to Washington, D. C.  There Shirley began her professional career as a bank clerk and then as an administrative assistant with the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia.  Her additional administrative positions included Budget Analyst in Real Property at Bolling Air Force Base and Management and Program Analyst at St. Elizabeth Mental Hospital. When she retired in 1995, she was proud that she had reached the grade of GS-15 (which was rare for blacks at that time).

Shirley gave her life to Christ in July of 1974 and joined the Gospel Ark Temple Bible Way Church of Washington, D.C., under the leadership of Bishop John Lamb.  During her membership at Gospel Ark Temple, she was extremely active and dedicated to the Lord by serving in the following capacities: member of the Senior Choir, the Pastor’s Choir and Senior Missionaries; President of the True Blue Club, President of the Women’s Department, Teacher of the Adult Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  At the National level, Sister Kelly presided as President of the International Deacons Wives Association for the The Bible Way Church of our Lord Jesus Christ World Wide, Incorporated organization. 

Subsequent to the passing of her husband, Deacon Truzell Kelly in October of 2002, Senior Missionary Kelly relocated to Columbia, South Carolina and joined Bible Way Church of Christ, Piedmont and then Bible Way Church of Atlas Road respectively.   As a member of Bible Way Church of Atlas Road, Senior Missionary Kelly was promoted to the position of Mother on the Mothers Board. Mother Kelly passionately loved teaching Sunday School and counseling the younger ladies in the ministry.  Her fighting spirit was prevalent as a prayer warrior while serving on the Mothers Board and while fighting for her life. 

Mother Shirley Kelly succumbed to Chronic Heart Failure and was birthed into eternal life on Friday, August 30, 2019 at 6:30 a.m.

She is survived by two sons, Larry D. (Leanora) Griffin and Greggory T. (Karen) Kelly; one daughter, Teresa R. Kelly; two sisters, Rosa Fowlkes and Bessie Jones; eight grandchildren, Stacey Brown, Jennifer (James) Frazier, Brentton Stevens, Patrice Reid, Chanelle Kelly, Eronn Stevens, Christopher Reeder, and Solara Kelly; three great-grandsons, Enoch Reid, Caleb Adams and Jordan Frazier; five sisters-in-law, Laura Peace, Rolanda Peace, Eloise Hughes, Martha (Robert) Dubard, and Charlene Ellis; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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