Earlene Godwin Kelley

Walhalla, SC—Earlene Godwin Kelley, 82, ended her earthly sojourn Thursday, October 2, 2008 at Atria Forest Lake Assisted Living in Columbia, SC. Mrs. Kelley retired from the Kendall Company and was a member of College Street Baptist Church in Walhalla, SC. At College Street Baptist Church, she was a member of the Lydia Sunday School class. She was a graduate of the School District of Oconee County’s Adult Education program. Born to Lewis N. and Virginia Belle Williford Godwin on April 20, 1926, she grew up in Dunn, NC. She had four sisters and five brothers. She discontinued her high school studies in 1942 to help at a Virginia Naval Base during World War II. Raised on a farm, she learned early in life a strong work ethic and the value of an abiding faith in God. She always lived simply, loved generously, laughed frequently, forgave unconditionally and spoke kindly. Surviving Mrs. Kelley are a daughter, Linda Kelley O’Quinn (James) of Augusta, GA; a son, John Kelley of Columbia, SC; a granddaughter, Michelle Juback (Bob) of Murrells Inlet, SC; two precious great-grandchildren, Smith and Kenley Belle Juback of Murrells Inlet, SC; a brother, Leamon Godwin of Dunn, NC; a sister, Myrtle Edwards of Havelock, NC; and a sister-in-law, Grace Kelley, of Walhalla, SC. She is also survived by her extended O’Quinn family: James, Jennifer, Will, Collin, James IV, Morton, Thomas and Sarah Catherine O’Quinn (Augusta, GA); Bart, Toni, Forest, Sage and Dez O’Quinn (Augusta, GA); Kelley, Mac, Lawton and William Brendon McSweeney (Charleston, SC); Summer O’Quinn (Athens, GA); and Eli O’Quinn (Athens, GA). In addition to her parents, Mrs. Kelley was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Kelley; a son-in-law, Dr. Kenneth W. Smith; and three sisters and four brothers, Wilburn Godwin, Osborn Godwin, Lona Strickland, Lenora West, William Godwin, Lillian Bracey and Ed Godwin, all from North Carolina. A celebration of the life of Earlene G. Kelley will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. at College Street Baptist Church in Walhalla. The family will receive friends after the service at Oconee Memorial Park in Seneca, SC. The family requests that memorials be made to College Street Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 340, Walhalla, SC 29691 or to Regency Hospice in Columbia, SC, 1611 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Dunbar Funeral Home is assisting the family in Columbia and Davenport Funeral Home is assisting the family in Walhalla.