Bernice Wellington (BW) Kelly

Bernice Wellington (BW) Kelly, 83, of Carrollton, VA passed away on Thursday, September 18, 2025. BW was born and raised on a farm in Clinton, NC as the 4th of 8 children born to the late Gordon and Mary Kelly. BW spoke of farming with a mule for years until the family got their first tractor. Clinton NC is where he met his loving wife of 61 years, Mary Kathleen (Kathy) Kelly. He and Kathy moved to Newport News in 1962 and settled in Carrollton in 1985 and remained there for the rest of his life where he worked in the home construction/remodeling business. There were very few neighborhoods in the area that BW couldn’t point out the home(s) that he built or remodeled. He loved fishing, coveralls, ballcaps, seafood, the Atlanta Braves and anything with an engine in it. He could fix anything! Most of all, he LOVED Kathy, his kids, and had a very special place in his heart for his grandchildren and great grandchildren! They were the love of his life. He was preceded in death by his wife Kathy, his brothers David and Roland Kelly, and his sister Helen Kelly Thornton. He is survived by his brothers, Thomas (Joyce), Roy, Stoney (Marilyn), his sister Melanie (Jonathan); his children, Joe Kelly Sr and Lorie (Jerry) Shepherd; grandchildren David (Chelsea) Lancaster, Ashley (Jake) Thomas, Tyler Shepherd Edwards, Amanda (Brandon) Rhodes, Kyle Shepherd and Joe (Miranda) Kelly Jr.; and great-grandchildren, Dominic, Hailey, Loralei, Violet, Jane, Millie, Brooks, Trent, his extended family Steven (Melissa & children) Peed and Corey (John & children) Hassell, and many loving friends he considered family. The family would like to thank Jey and Meredith at Gentiva Hospice for the care they provided him in his final days. A viewing will be on Monday, September 22, 2025, 10 a.m. with the funeral service immediately following at 11 a.m. at Little’s Funeral Home in Smithfield, VA with a private burial at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad or Carrollton Volunteer Fire Dept. Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com