Doris Kelly

Doris Lee (n. Fowler) Kelly, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt. Doris, the daughter of Marie Jacobs (Hargrove) and Dave McCoy, was born on November 27, 1926 in Clinton, North Carolina.  Doris, aged 93, departed from this life peacefully at home in Clinton, North Carolina on Wednesday, May 13, 2020.

She leaves behind a devoted husband of 65 years, George W. Kelly; son, Jesse D. (Nejla) Parker; daughters, Sheila (Larry) Grice; Jacqueline Kelly; Doris Ann Hicks; Marie Elizabeth Kelly (deceased); sisters, Denatilus Price, Ida Marie Carr, and Penny Rich; as well as pre-deceased beloved siblings: Walter Herman Melvin, Moses Hargrove, Jr., Isaac Freeman Hargrove, Lenter Elwood Hargrove, William Allen Hargrove, James Cleveland Hargrove, Mary-Alice Kirby, Willie McCoy, and Lucy McCoy.  She also leaves a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins; special friend and goddaughter-in-Christ, Delores Coley; and countless other friends and acquaintances.

Doris was educated in the Sampson County school system. In 1946, she and young son relocated to New Jersey.  While there, she initially performed domestic work, but then later worked in the home healthcare sector. She also had more children and got married.  In 1972, she and most of her family moved back to Clinton, North Carolina.  Soon after, in 1974, upon  receiving additional education, she became the first African-American woman in Sampson County, North Carolina to receive her certification as a nursing assistant.  Always a disciplined and avid learner, she also received continuing education certifications from Sampson Technical College and Fayetteville State University.  In her spare time, she taught GED courses at the local community center.  She spent her career working as a private duty   nursing assistant, and was also employed at several public healthcare agencies until her retirement.  After her retirement, she became the owner and operator of “Kelly’s Boutique” and become affectionately known as “The Hat Lady.”

Doris was a loving matriarch and her home was often the center of family reunion gatherings where she would share her delicious meals, wisdom, as well as interesting family history.  She was also a servant of the Lord and always displayed formidable and unwavering faith--even during life’s challenges.  She was a long-time member and evangelist at Faith Temple Pentecostal Church.   

Special thanks to all of the doctors, nurses, home health aides, and caretakers who took special care of Doris L. Kelly during her convalescence while at hospitals and healthcare facilities in Sampson County, North Carolina.

Homegoing/recommitment services will be held at graveside at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Clinton, North Carolina.  Services will be officiated by Butler & Son’s Funeral Home, Inc.  For additional details, please visit Butler & Son’s website at:  http://www.butlerandson.com.

**NOTE:  Due to safety precautions, the number of graveside visitors will be limited. However, services will be live streamed on Butler & Son’s Facebook page.

Please send flowers and expressions of sympathies directly to:  Jacqueline Kelly and George Kelly at: 1725 Boone Road, Clinton, NC 28328.  Alternatively, you can plant a tree in honor of the loving memory of Doris L. Kelly.

Private Graveside Service will be Saturday, May 23, 2020 at Hillcrest Cemetery in Clinton, NC. 

Butler & Son Funeral Services

Clinton, NC 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Doris Kelly, please visit our floral store.