Josephine (Walker) Kelley

Josephine Walker Kelley, of Fayetteville, passed away Sunday, April 16th, 2023. She was 91 years old.

Mrs. Kelley was born on November 24, 1931, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was the 2nd of 4 daughters born to Stella Turner Walker and Charles Benjamin Walker. She was a graduate of the University of Chattanooga, where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and the Mortar Board Honor Society. Following graduation, she married Paul Benson Kelley and went to work for The Tennessee Valley Authority as a Cartographic Engineering Aide. When Paul received his regular army commission, Mrs. Kelley became an Army wife for the next 23 years, living at over a dozen army posts in the United States, along with 3 years in Augsburg and Munich, Germany. After her 2 sons were grown, she worked for the Fort Bragg School System for 15 years. Josephine was a long-time member of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church and the Faithful Workers Sunday School Class.

She was preceded in death by her son, Dr. William Andrew Kelley; her beloved husband of 58 years, a retired LTC, Paul Benson Kelley; and older sister, Betty Lombardo. She is survived by her son, Paul Benson Kelley Jr. and his wife, Laura Kelley of Wake Forest, NC; sisters, Mary Traxel of Poplar Bluff, MO and Helen Mountjoy of Utica, KY; 8 grandchildren, Andrew Kelley (Jessi), Evan Kelley, Kathryn Kelley, Georgia Kelley, Jake Kelley (Audrey), Luke Kelley, Rebecca Homick (Jason), and Rachel Kelley; and 4 great-grandsons, Will, Carden, Kyle, and Elijah.

Funeral services will be on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home with visitation at 10 am and service at 11 am. The burial will be at the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, NC at 12 noon. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Philadelphia Ministry or operation INASMUCH at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, 701 Westmont Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28305.

Services provided by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

Online condolences may be sent to http://www.jerniganwarren.com

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