Mildred Ruth (Jackson) Kelley

Mildred Ruth Kelley was born October 15, 1914, in Fayette County, near Good Hope, Ohio. She was the sixth of twelve children born to George and Minnie Jackson. Mildred was reared in Chillicothe, Ohio, where she met and married William Andrew Kelley. To this union, nine children were born - seven daughters and two sons. Mildred accepted Christ as a young teenager. She dedicated herself to the Lord and continually served Him throughout her life. She relocated to Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and children. After serving at Mt. Calvary Holiness Church and Refuge Baptist Church, she joined Trinity Baptist Church. For over fifty years, Mildred faithfully served at Trinity in many capacities including Youth Leader, New Member class instructor, and as a part of the Missionary Ministry. She touched the lives of many as she shared the Word of the Lord through the Prison Ministry and with the youth who attended weekly Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School. Additionally, she served as Superintendent of Sunday School. In 1999, she was ordained as a Deaconess of Trinity. Her service and ministry went beyond the walls of her church home and included her participation in Church Women United, as well as the Lott Carey Foreign Missions. In 2000, at the age of 85, Deaconess Kelley graduated with Honors from Eastern Union Bible College (an extension of Simmons College, Louisville, Kentucky), with a degree in Biblical Studies. She was a member of the Eastern Union Missionary Baptist Association and was recognized as The Trailblazer Honoree in 2007. Mildred was an independent, strong-willed, determined, and dedicated servant. She taught and cared for her children while being employed with the State of Ohio for over thirty years. After retiring from her position as supervisor of statistical clerks for the Department of Welfare, Mildred took up her lifelong desire of being a poet. She became a distinguished VIP member of the International Society of Poetry and her works garnered many awards, including recognition in the International Who's Who in Poetry. She always said that poetry was her dream because it afforded her the opportunity to send out messages of God's love and mercy. She was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 19, 2015. She was preceded in death by husband William A. Kelley, daughters, Viola Mae Thurman, Barbara J. Obey, and June I. Delco, and son Robert Earl Kelley. Left to cherish memories of Mildred Ruth Kelley are her daughters, Marlene Bullock, Katherine Cole, Marilyn (Stanley) Dawkins, and Joan I. Kelley; son William (Leslie) Kelley; special nephews, George and Joe Johnson; over two hundred grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. For more information on how to submit your monetary gift, please visit: http://cancer.osu.edu/giving-back/ways-to-donate, or call: (614)293-3752.