Joyce Franks Kelley

Kelley, Joyce Franks, age 82, of Kimberly, Alabama passed away early Tuesday morning, September 30, 2014, in Knoxville, TN. Joyce was a member of Kimberly Church of God, where she served for many years—frying thousands of pieces of chicken and apple pies for fundraisers. Joyce was a constant champion of “the least of these,” and selflessly served family and friends. She was known by many names, but her favorite was Dae. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hoyt Kelley; parents, Sheridan and Nola Franks; siblings, Geneva Moore, Margaret Moore, Warren Franks, Ollie Gene Franks and TJ Franks; many beloved Kelley family members; and lifelong friend, Mary Heron. Joyce is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Keven Bowdle of Knoxville; son, Kevin Kelley of Birmingham; grandsons, Garrett, Micah, Jackson and Caleb; grandchildren of her heart, Kate Heron Blackburn of Kimberly, and Noah, Summer and Asa LaBelle of Greenville, SC; sisters-in-love, Margie, Barbara and Adelene Kelley; her Bowdle/LaBelle family, Jean, Karen and Shawn; many nieces and nephews; Buffy Kelley; and friends in Kimberly and Knoxville whom she loved like family. The family will receive friends Friday, Oct. 3, 5 to 8 p.m., at Kimberly First Baptist Church, 1923 Church Street, Kimberly, AL. A Celebration of her life will be held Sat., Oct. 4, 11 a.m., at Kimberly First Baptist, with Rev. Rick Bradley officiating. Because of the loving care Joyce received there, in lieu of flowers, her family requests memorials be made to Shannondale Employees’ Emergency Fund, 801 Vanosdale Road, Knoxville, TN 37909; please write “In Memory of Joyce Kelley” on the Memo line. A friend at Shannondale summed up the story of her life: “Joyce was always givin’ out love.” And, as another friend put it, “Heaven just got a whole lot feistier.”