Doris Howard Kelly

Doris Howard Kelly began her life on September 9, 1929, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and departed on September 18, 2022. She was the second daughter in the union of Adeline Reed Howard and Samuel Howard, Jr. With her family, she lived in a loving home in the lower Ninth Ward. Family was important and her paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins lived close by. Her mother passed when she was a young child, and her maternal aunt, Sarah Reed Drew, her paternal grandparents, Samuel Howard, Sr., and Lumby Calvin Howard, and relatives close by and in Port Gibson, Mississippi, stepped in to help her father care for her and her sister, Mabel. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, then entered beauty school and operated her own beauty salon for many years. She was industrious and also worked at Rex, “The Sewing Factory.” She was formerly married to the late Harold Kelly, Sr. She was the loving mother of three children, Harold Kelly, Jr., LaDon Kelly, and Pamela Kelly Scott. Her nephew, Bruce Harris, called her, “Aunt Tee,” and many children in the family followed suit, including her son, calling her that name. When she learned that a grandbaby was arriving, she said that she would be called, “Meme,” and once again, this became her name to many. She returned to college as an adult and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Southern University in New Orleans. She was a dedicated teacher at Edgar P. Harney and Thomas A. Edison elementary schools. She often went beyond the call of duty and assisted students, parents, and her schools with fundraising for extracurricular activities, sewing pageant attire, and costumes, purchasing needed uniforms and clothing for students, soliciting donations of household items for families, and advising parents through challenging situations. She loved sewing and being creative and crafted handmade dolls and cultural items that she sold to tourists from around the world in the French Market for over 40 years. She was a devout Christian and was baptized as a child. As an adult, she was a member of Little Zion Baptist Church, and later joined Branch Bell Baptist Church where she guided youth in their service to God as she oversaw the Junior Usher Board. She later joined Jesus the Light Center, then Gideon Christian Fellowship where she continued to grow in her faith in God and served in the tutoring program, nurturing young minds for future success. She was preceded in death by her parents, Adeline Reed Howard and Samuel Howard, Jr.; her Maternal Aunt and surrogate Mother, Sarah Reed Drew; her son, Harold Kelly, Jr.; and a grandson, LaFraun Kelly. She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, LaDon Kelly and Pamela Kelly Scott (John Scott); one sister, Mable Howard; three granddaughters-LaKyia Scott, Mariel Foy, and JoiAnguli Scott; two great-grandsons, Brenton Scott, and Julien Baugh; one nephew, Bruce Harris; great nieces/nephew, Dwayne Hamilton, Essence Harris Banks, and Brunisha Jones; one first cousin, Audrey Howard Joseph, and a host of relatives and friends. Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Service at Gideon Christian Fellowship, 3401 Elysian Fields Ave, New Orleans, LA 70122, on Friday, September 30, 2022 at 10:00 AM. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM. Internment: Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 4000 Norman Mayer Ave, New Orleans, LA 70122. Arrangements by D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70125. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook.