Joy Kelly

On March 24, 2021, Francis Joy (Jaudon) Kelly, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother went to be with her Lord at the age of 92.

A memorial service for Joy will be 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 25, 2021 in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home.

Joy was born on December 23, 1928 at home in Becker, MS to the late Claude Houston and Mytrle Idellus (Awtrey) Jaudon. She attended Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, MS. She married Bobbie Melvin Kelly on March 4, 1949 in Memphis, TN. She had three sons, Robert Franklin “Frank” Kelly, John Claude “Johnny” Kelly, and Bobbie “Bob” Melvin Kelly, Jr. all born in Greenwood, MS. They moved around in the early years of their marriage and after living with her parents in Memphis. In 1958 they moved to Twist, AR where they lived until 1965, when they moved to Batesville, MS where she spent most of her life. Twist was 11 miles from Earl, AR where the boys attended school and worshipped at Earl First Baptist Church. While living in Twist, her husband ran the general store and Joy worked at the farm office.

After moving to Batesville in 1965 Joy and her husband owned and operated Kelly’s One Stop (The Monkey Station) on Highway 6. From there, they went to operate Kelly Bros (Dixie Truck Stop) at Highway 6 & 51. After several years here, a new store was built on highway 35 North which she actively worked in and later they purchases J’K’s Package Store, which she operated for years until she sold it years later. During this time she kept books for Bill McKie, the seal test Distributor here in Batesville, MS. She then worked at JKV until she was 85. She never wanted to quit work and stay home and do nothing. Even after 85 she continued to run business errands for her son, Johnny and her daughter-in-law, Helen until she was 92.

Joy loved her family, especially her great grandchildren. She had very dear friends in Batesville who meant so much to her.

Surviving her include her two sons, John C. “Johnny” and Helen Kelly, Bobbie “Bob” and Suzie Kelly along with her sister, Barbara Jane “Janie: and Joe Greever.

Her surviving grandchildren and their spouses include: Mona Pittman (Scottie), Meredith Kelly Whaley (Randy), Michael Kelly (Tina), Spencer Hamilton, Bobby M. Kelly, III (Ruthe Kathryn Rains), Aeron and Leann Hamilton Stobaugh, Matthew and Laurie Baker Kelly.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bob on Christmas Day in 1985, her son Frank in July of 2006, her brother Charles Hendon Jaudon in 2018, and two grandchildren, Tena Tedford Morgan and Richard Russell Tedford.

As the boys were growing up, she became very close to many of their friends.

Joy was a member of the First Baptist Church of Batesville where she worshiped regularly until her health prevented it.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to make a memorial donation in Joy’s name, please do so to the Wounded Warrior Project or the VFW, which she both supported.