Paula Kelly

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV)

Mrs. Paula Renee Bailey Kelly, affectionately known as "P. Kelly", was born on Sept. 4, 1966 at MCV Hospital in Richmond, VA, to Ralph Paul Bailey, Sr. and Daisy Cooke Bailey of Spring Grove, VA. She passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 5:28 p.m. with her loving family by her side.
P. Kelly was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Claiborne and Sallie Cooke; paternal grandparents, Leander and Temple Bailey, and a sister-in-law, Wilma McDonald.
At a early age Paula received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour at Swan's Point Baptist Church in Spring Grove, VA, where she served the Lord with gladness and joy. In 1998, Paula relocated to North Carolina, and rededicated her life to Christ at New Generation Church of Jesus Christ in Sanford, under the leadership of Pastor Phillip Watson, Sr. P. Kelly moved back to Virginia and united with Lily of the Valley Deliverance Center, Waverly, VA, where Bishop Marvin J. Drew, Sr. presides. While at Lily of the Valley P. Kelly co-piloted the F.A.N.S. Ministry and was a member of the Women's Ministry. She later united and was a faithful member of Empowerment Temple Ministries, she continued to be a great praise warrior and a runner for Jesus Christ.
She enjoyed attending Worldwide Women Empowerment Conferences to include: Woman Thou Art Loose, Women of Destiny, and Women of the Word. When the Holy Spirit was high regardless of what she was going through, P. Kelly always gave God the highest praise with a heart filled with thanksgivings and tears of joy.
P. Kelly was introduced to work at early age as a farm girl under the guidance of her father. She learned to care for farm animals, gardening, small engine repair, and drive manual vehicles. Those driving skills helped her become one of the best gear shifters on this side of the James River and if you doubted her, she would invite you for a ride in her Mustang or Camaro and say, "Let Me Show You Boo." Not only could she "drive that thang" but she could also change tires, oil, jump start a car, swap a starter, pull-out a front end, transmission, and engine.
P. Kelly was a girl at heart but a "Tom Boy" by trade as she also enjoyed roofing, driving farm trucks, home renovation, cutting grass, and pulling trailers. P. Kelly had an exceptional memory whereas she could travel to a place with multiple turns once and wouldn't need a GPS for the next trip.
Paula graduated from Surry County High School in 1984 and ECPI in 1986. She was employed with Honeywell as Quality Control Tester for NASA Jet Parts and Hewlett Packard (ECMMS/FoxCon), where she served as Quality Control Specialist until her health declined. It is then that she became a self-employed gardener, professional shopper (she was introduced by her maternal grandparents) and cooking her famous apple jacks (she was introduced by her parental grandparents). She found joy in missionary work by taking others to their medical appointments, making others laugh, and riding and driving Miss Daisy (her mother).
P Kelly leaves to treasure her memories, her loving husband, Kenneth Kelly, Sr., whom she met at ECPI in 1984; her daughters, Amani Kelly and Harmoni Kelly; a son, Kenneth "Dae Dae" Kelly, Jr.; step-daughter, Veronica Bland; parents, Ralph and Daisy Bailey of Spring Grove, VA; two brothers, Gary Bailey (Jocelyn) of Raleigh, NC, and Ralph "Bigman" Bailey, Jr. of Spring Grove, VA; a sister, Trina Bailey Craddox of Claremont, VA; in-laws, Russell and Margie McDaniel of Durham, NC; two brothers-in-law, Scott Kelly of Waverly, VA, and Keith McDaniel of Orlando, FL; sister-in-law, Leslie "Rica" Kelly of Moncure, NC; two aunts, Elvira D. Ruffin of Spring Grove, VA, and Rose Brown (John) of Spring Grove, VA; uncles, Claiborne Cooke (Rosemary) of Hopewell, VA, Kenneth Bailey (Carolyn) of Williamsburg, VA, Theodore Bailey (Betty) of Boston, MA, James "Curtis" Bailey (Ruth) of Spring Grove, VA, and Horace Bailey (Gladys) of Smithfield, VA; three great aunts, Novella Wooden (Joseph) of Spring Grove, VA, Alfreda Jenkins (Dan) of MD, and Doretha R. Newby of Spring Grove, VA; great uncle, Ernest F. Bailey of Washington, DC, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Paula R. Kelly will be held 3 p.m., Sunday, April 23, 2017 at Morning Star Baptist Church, 19121 Brandon Road, Spring Grove, Va., the Rev. Dr. Robert L. Elliott, Jr., Pastor, eulogist. Interment to follow at Swan's Point Baptist Church Cemetery.
Wake service from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the funeral establishment.
Family members and friends are invited to pay final tribute to Mrs. Kelly atwww.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, Va., (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.