Mrs. Willamena Kelly

Willamena Kelly, 86, passed away at her daughter’s home in Durham, North Carolina on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Born Willie Mae in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Willamena is the last surviving child of Joseph and Amelia Williams. In 1953, she graduated from Girls High School in Brooklyn, NY. She and Sgt. James N. Boyd (dec.) married. Willamena loved traveling to bases across the U.S. and Germany as a military wife. She proudly earned her jump wings with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. While stationed at Valley Forge, they settled in Pottstown, Pennsylvania in 1968 where they raised five children. Willamena loved her family, cooking, and socializing with friends. Through her employment with Pottstown Public Schools, she combined her passion for food and people by working in elementary and junior high school cafeterias. Until her retirement, she enjoyed getting to know the children and grandchildren of her friends and kept her pockets full for students who needed lunch money. In 1980 Willamena married Winston J. Kelly and together they enjoyed cruises and traveling to casinos up and down the east coast. On weekends they could be found socializing with friends at the American Legion, the F.O.E., the Elks Lodge, or in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania. Willamena’s favorite activity was to host family and friends at her home on May Street where guests were treated to good food, drinks, music, and conversation in the basement, in the kitchen or on the deck. Willamena was preceded in death by her husband Winston, her son, Nathaniel Boyd and all nine of her cherished siblings: Herman Williams, Fletcher Williams, James Williams, Leon Williams, Harold Williams, John (“Rock”) Williams, Josephine Miller, Eula Mae Jackson, and Elease Perry. She is loved and survived by her children, Glenn Boyd (Chicago, Illinois), Stephen Boyd (Wadsworth, Illinois), Sharon Yvette (Boyd) Graves (Fayetteville, North Carolina), Stephen and Valarie (Boyd) Valentine (Durham, North Carolina), and John Kelly (Allentown, Pa.). Willamena was ‘Aunt Will’ to her many nieces and nephews and ‘Grammy’ to even more grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She will be missed by all those who knew her. A graveside funeral at Limerick Garden of Memories in Royersford, Pennsylvania will be held on Friday, May 27th, 2022. In lieu of flowers and cards do one or all of the following: call a friend or co-worker, enjoy a homecooked meal with your family, plan a trip, give a donation to your local church, make lunches for residents of your local shelter, or pay off a student’s lunch debt at your local school.

Mrs. Willamena Kelly

May 27, 1935 - February 10, 2022