Billie J. Clark Kelly

Billie J. Clark Kelly was born March 5,1953 in West Virginia to the late Charles W. Clark and Doris Parker. She departed on October 19,2025 at Newark Beth Israel Hospital.
Billie was the oldest of 10 children. As a youth, Billie and her family moved to Newark, NJ. She was educated in the Newark public school district and graduated from Weequahic High School. She furthered her education and attended Rutgers University. She then found her passion in hair and she attended Wilford Beauty Academy and became a licensed barber. Billie was so passionate with cutting hair she became one of the first black women barbers. Eventually she became the owner of Knock Out Cuts where she would give out free cuts to the community. Billie was sharp with a razor or clipper and she was a proud business owner.
In 1973 Billie became a proud mother to her only son, Kharishad Clark, whom she adored. In 1981 Billie, being a barber, met the love of her life James D. Kelly. They formed a solid foundation and raised Kharishad and Paulette together. Billie was a mother to many and always kept her doors open. Fashion and hair was her thing and traveling down south to see family was important. In 2013 James and Billie made it official and got married.
Billie was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Clark and Doris Parker; and her siblings, Anesha, Gwannette, Ann, Charles, Kevin and Timothy Clark.
Billie leaves her precious memories to her husband, James D. Kelly; her son, Kharishaad Clark; her stepdaughter, Paulette Jones; her grandchildren, Nashanta, Cryshaan, Kharishad, Fayson, Quadir, Khrishonnah, Christie, Vanessa, Rashon, Lamar and Dorian; her siblings, Denise, Robin and Carl Clark; along with a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
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