Stevie Bennard Kelly

On Sunday, February 18, 2018, Stevie transitioned with his loving wife by his side. He departed this Earth to another land. “A city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God” Hebrews 11: 10

He stepped across the threshold that we call death, but it was only a step into another room, and not stepping out of the fellowship of life. It was but a stepping into one of the other rooms of our Father’s house. The noises of the world make it hard for us to hear the still voice beyond the door; the world’s bright light blind our eyes to the soft glow of eternity; the constant concern with material things deadens our sensitiveness to the spiritual values of that unseen land until we are tempted even to deny their reality. Stevie is at peace with God now, and rejoicing in his heavenly home.

Stevie was born on October 13, 1957 to Alfred P. Kelly and the Late Bertha Hamilton Kelly in Charleston, MO. He was the third of four children.

He confessed faith in Christ and was baptized at Spangle Banner Missionary Baptist Church in Shaw, MS under the leadership of Dr. Lonnie L. Gunns. After moving to Memphis, TN, he joined The Life Church in Collierville, TN under the leadership of Pastor John Siebeling.

Stevie graduated from Westside High School in Gary, IN in 1975. He attended Purdue University and while working at Jack Gray Transport, he met and married the love of his life, Mashawn Williams.

He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1986 and served his country for 26 years. Most of those years were spent in Honolulu, HI. He retired as Senior Petty Officer and served as a Fire Control Technician on various US Naval Nuclear Submarines. In 1994, he earned his Bachelor’s from Southern Illinois University.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Bertha Hamilton Kelly, his niece Mia and nephew Quincy.

He leaves to cherish his memory, a loving and devoted wife of 31 years, Mashawn, two sons, Torries, Stevie, II (Memphis) and a godson, Patrick Murata, (Honolulu). In addition to his wife and children, he leaves his father, Alfred Kelly (Gary) and a mother-in-law, Berna Gunns- Williams (Washington, DC). He also leaves three sisters, Sandrel (Gary), Marilyn and Alfia, one nephew, Trey (Milwaukee) and one niece, Shanell of Phoenix, AZ, several uncles, aunts, cousins and a host of extended family and friends.