Elizabeth Johns Kelly

Elizabeth Johns Kelly of Marietta, GA, formerly of Jacksonville, FL, passed June 8, 2011, following a brief illness. Elizabeth was born in Atlanta January 12, 1923, daughter of the late O O Johns, Sr and the late Vera Adair Johns. When Elizabeth was still just a girl, the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where she spent most of her life, until returning to Atlanta several years ago.

Like many Jacksonville girls in the WWII years, Elizabeth was wooed and won by a handsome sailor, and she and Thomas E. Kelly were married for 50 years, until his death in 1994. He gave her his Catholic religion, which she whole heartedly embraced. They hve one daughter, Mary Beth (Tom) Willson, of Roswell, GA; two granddaughters, Kelly Willson (Brent) Wardrop of Apopka, FL, and Jennifer Willson (Rob) Mautz of Cornelius, NC,; and four great-granddaughters, Madison and Hailey Wardrop, and Ansley and Alyson Mautz.

Elizabeth spent her working years as a top notch legal secretary, but her passions were gardening and quilting, and she was an artist at both. She made equally beautiful, intricate and colorful works of art out of either earth or reams of material. Anyone getting one of Elizabeth's creations considered themselves lucky indeed. Elizabeth also displayed an unexpected talent for nursing, having nursed her husband Tom through his final illness, and her bother O O Johns, Jr. through his. She was also predeceased by her sister, Irene Johns Tatum of Atlanta.

Elizabeth will be taken home to Jacksonville to rejoin Tom, service to be announced later. But for local friends and family there will be a Rosary, Saturday June 11, 2011 at 10am at H M Patterson & Son Chapel, 1157 Old Canton Rd, NE, Marietta, GA with visitation following from 11-1. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Metropolitan Hospice, 200 Village Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30067, 770-988-0880

Arrangements under the direction of H.M. Patterson & Son-Canton Hill Chapel, Marietta, GA.