Frances Kell

Frances was born in Steele, AL on April 5, 1925. She was the daughter of Preston and Ora Gilliland. Her father died when she was two years old and she grew up with her mother and stepfather, Johnny Deweese. Frances was raised and attended school on Chandler Mountain. She married Ernest Kell, also of Chandler Mountain, on December 25, 1945. The couple farmed on Chandler Mountain their entire lives, where they raised their two children, Paul and Judy.

Frances was an active member of the community and a life-long member of Mount Lebanon FCM Church. She served as a school bus driver for St. Clair County Schools for 10 years. During her lifetime, she saw Chandler Mountain transformed. Electricity, cars, radio and television – all came to the mountain during her lifetime. Like all of her generation, she saw hard times and prosperity come in cycles as rural Alabama became more suburban.

Frances was preceded in death by her father, Preston Gilliland; and her parents, Johnny and Ora Deweese of Chandler Mountain; siblings, Berlon (Annie Mae) Deweese, Jeannette (Leslie) Brown, Louise Brothers, Wayne (Wanda) Deweese, Gene Deweese, and Gaynell (Bill) Bartlett; her husband, Ernest; and son, Paul, also of Chandler Mountain.

She is survived by a daughter, Judy (Steve) Scully; daughter-in-law, Susan Kell; grandchildren, Jennifer (Rick) Spears, Paula (Jason) Ballard, Josh (Kristin) Kell, Shannon(William) McRae, Ben (Liz) Scully; great grandchildren; Will, Nicholas and Garrett Spears, Caroline and Abigail Ballard, Kate and David Kell, Wills, Lib and Amelia McRae, Ernest and Boyd Scully.

A funeral service for Frances Kell will be held Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Mount Lebanon FCM Church, 803 Mt Lebanon Rd, Steele, AL 35987. The family will accept visitors prior to the service from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Frances loved flowers, so flowers will be appreciated and should be taken to Mount Lebanon FCM Church. Memorial donations can be made to support House of Hope Orphanage. Donations can be sent to House of Hope, PO Box 1601 Ashville AL 35953 or Venmo @HouseofHopeThrift.