Jeanette J. Kelley

Jeanette J. Kelley, 92 of Tuscaloosa, died peacefully with family by her side on Sunday, April 26, 2026, while at Hospice of West Alabama.

Survivors include her daughter, Nancy K. Cunningham (Alan), two sons, Richard W. Kelley (Dennis) of Atlanta, GA (Tucker, GA), and Sidney C. Kelley (Lynn) of Tuscaloosa, AL and sister, Angie Loretta Shively of Mebane, NC. She is also survived by her six grandchildren and one great grand daughter. 

She was preceded in death by her father, Col. Arthur Louis Toups, Mother, Bertha Watkins Toups, sisters Laura May Schedko of Louisville KY, Lorena Durham of Rural Hill Hall, NC, Pauline Marie Dean of Rising Fawn, GA. and Earle P. Kelley, her husband of 56 years.

Mrs. Kelley was born in 1933 in Ancon, Panama Canal Zone. She was reared in Durham, NC, and graduated from St. Petersburg FL High school in 1953. She married the love of her life, Earle P. Kelley, in 1952. They lived in several central Florida cities before settling in Tuscaloosa in 1970.

Jeanette received her RN from Sanford University Ida Moffit School of Nursing. She worked for DCH (Druid City Hospital- Tuscaloosa) for 24 years, spending the most of her career on 5 south before retiring in 1994. Janette was a nurse "extradordinaire" as testified by many doctors, nurses and friends. 

After retirement she volunteered for Castle Hill, West Alabama AIDS Outreach, Hospice of West Alabama, Amedisys Hospice, Maude L. Whatley and Red Cross Drives as well as volunteering for Health Screenings at local churches. She later became a clinical instructor for at Shelton State Community College.

Her hobbies included gardening, ceramics, knitting, reading and painting.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, remembrance contributions be made to Freedom Farms  , P.O. Box 249, Coker, AL 35452 (freedomfarmal.org)