Remembering Mrs. Joyce Kelly

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    How do you characterize an angel?  According to those who knew Joyce Kelly, who passed away last week, you need look no further.  "She was an angel," School Board member Sharon Browning said, " She never had an enemy, she was always the same all the time."  Retired Assistant Superintendent Ronnie Devall shared, "She was probably the sweetest person I've ever been in contact with.  She will surely be missed.  She was just a beautiful person."  "She was the sweetest thing that ever was," said Margaret Gentry, whose husband Glenn was one of the several CHS principals Mrs. Kelly worked for, "Mr. Gentry thought the world of her.  You couldn't ask for a finer person.  She was a lady's lady." Central Sheriff Substation Captain Bobby Dale Callender remembered, "She was dearly loved.  When you opened the door to the office, the first thing you noticed was her smile.  She was one of the greatest listeners and advice-givers I ever saw."

    Mrs. Kelly was secretary to the principal of Central High School for 34 years.  For her longstanding service to the children of the Central Community she was inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Mrs. Browning stated, "She was the Historian of Central High School, CHS was her heart, she just loved it." "She was the most knowledgeable person I know about Central High history.  We'd always call her when we needed information on someone from the school.  Anytime anyone needed someone to work on a committee or find someone to work on a committee she always had the information," Mr. Devall said.

    She served on the Hall of Fame selection committee the whole time Mr. Devall served as Principal.  Mrs. Brrowning remembered how they needed to find the bus key to take the football team to the playoffs.  No one could find the key, so they ended up having to rouse Mrs. Kelly from sedation after surgery to tell them where the key was!  Former CHS Principal Graydon Walker said with a smile, "She was very efficient, very loyal.  She was truly an asset to me as a principal.  She had a unique filing system – on top of her desk!  I'd ask her, 'Joyce, where's that bill from Coca-Cola', and she'd find it right there on top of her desk."  "You could ask her for anything, and she'd reach into that pile on her desk and find it," Sharon, who went to CHS as a student while Mrs. Kelly was secretary, then returned to work with her as a teacher, remembered.    

    Not just proficient at her job, Mrs. Kelly affected lives by being an example.  "She never complained, she was very dedicated," Mr. Devall said.  Mr. Walker shared, "She lived such a good life, she set the example for all of us to follow. So many of us don't leave a legacy like she did.  It would be nice if all of us left a legacy like Joyce Kelly did.  She didn't just talk about it, she lived it." "She was a pillar of Blackwater United Methodist Church," said Mrs. Browning, "She was Central's Mother Theresa, and she was my dear friend."  "I don't know anyone in our community who had more respect than Joyce Kelly," Mrs. Gentry affirmed.  Mamie Younger shared poetically, "She had eyes created from a slice of God's blue heaven."  Capt. Callender remembered, "One day I had to go to Principal J.A. Smith's office for fighting on the school bus.  Mrs. Kelly said, 'Bobby Dale, I'm praying for you, baby.' I have no doubt she talked to Mr. Smith and that's why he didn't give us a licking.  He pulled out the paddle and hit his old grey metal desk, but I knew she had intervened on my behalf.  She just bubbled Jesus.  She witnessed with just a smile.  I knew Who she was mirroring, was trying to share- strictly the love of Jesus.  She made a total impact on my life.  Folks are going to have to go to Heaven to see her again, because that's where she surely is." 

    Thanks to everyone who contributed their memories to this article, and to Mrs. Kelly's daughter Tara Bryan, who shared the photo of Mrs. Kelly where most of Central remembers her being – behind her desk.