Winifred, known to many as “Betty”, moved from Lima, Peru where she obtained a degree in early childhood education, to Danielsville, Georgia, after meeting and later marrying her beloved husband, Joe O’Kelley. A strong, independent and confident woman who wasn’t afraid of anyone or anything, including raising several small children in a small town while her husband was at sea, Winifred, an entrepreneur at heart, started up Deltina day care nursery in Athens soon after arriving in Georgia. The business expanded to four locations after her husband retired from the Merchant Marines. Over time, they owned and operated a variety of other businesses including Deltina Diesel & Auto, Deltina Foreign Car, Deltina Lake and Deltina Sportswear. After Joe passed away in 1975, Winifred continued to demonstrate her keen business acumen starting other businesses including a boarding house and restaurant, Magnolia Terrace and Tony’s Restaurant. In 1980, Winifred and her two youngest children moved to Houston, Texas shortly after one of her daughters moved there for law school. While in Houston, Winifred started a citywide cleaning service, Alexander’s Maid Service, which operated successfully until she retired in 2004. She returned to live in Georgia in 2014.
The most important thing that can be said about Winifred, is she was a dedicated mother who treasured her children and her family. She was a proud, loving woman who touched the lives of countless people. She leaves behind a very large family that she was very proud of. She cannot know how much she was loved and will be missed.
Winifred is preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Delgado and Julia Delgado; her husband, Joe F. O’Kelley,Sr.; daughter, Jacquelyn S. Barnett and her husband, Dawson Barnett; brothers, Hector Delgado Reyes and George Samuel Delgado Reyes; and sisters, Zoila Aurora Delgado Reyes, Alicia Delgado Reyes and Elcira Delgado Reyes. She is survived by her children, Charles A. O’Kelley, Sr., Vanessa O’Kelley Weathersbee, Valentina M. Gerling, Vicki O’Kelley Craft, Joe F. O’Kelley, Jr., Donna J. O’Kelley and Robert O. O’Kelley and their families which includes 15 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson. She is also survived by her sister, Erlinda Delgado Viuda de Villena, brother, Agusto Delgado Reyes and many nephews and nieces all of whom she loved and touched deeply.
A memorial service for Winifred was held Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Bernstein Funeral Home.
Bernstein Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.8.18