China Rebecca Kelly

China Rebecca Smith was born in Clinton, Tennessee on April 3, 1919, the fourth of seven children to James and Dora Smith. China showed an early interest in being a teacher and as a teenager, excelled in academics. In 1940 she began her college education at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas where she met her husband, Bruce Kelly. China’s passion for education spanned 34 years in the Houston Independent School system and she taught in all grades from kindergarten to eighth grade. She later attained her Masters in Education at the University of Houston and her extraordinary teaching abilities led to her being honored by Mrs. H. W. Bush at a Houston teacher’s luncheon. She and Bruce were life-long members of Bellaire Christian Church and continued as an active member when Bellaire Christian later merged with Bethany Christian Church.

She is preceded in death by her husband Bruce Kelly, and her brothers Raleigh Nevin Smith, Dr. Dean Smith, Ernest Edmond Smith, and James Harvey Smith, and by sister Dora Grace Smith French. China is survived by her sons Duane Kelly of Houston, Dean Kelly and daughter-in-law Mai, of Houston, and grandson Shawn Kelly of Houston.

She is survived by her sister, Doris Mae Smith Waddell, now residing in Glen Allen, Virginia. China was a friend to all she met and generously gave of herself to her church, family and friends.

China Kelly passed away peacefully in her sleep the evening of February 9, 2011 and will be deeply missed by her legions of nieces and nephews.