By Staff
Mrs. Bessie Louise Kelley, 97, died Sunday,  Dec. 20, 2009. She was an active member of Cora Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rufus Doc Chavis and Mamie Nowling, her husband, Perry Kelley; a daughter, Shirley Tidwell; a son, Wayne Kelley; a grandson, Ray Bovia Jr.; a granddaughter, Regina Scott; two sons-in-law, Ray Bovia and Lloyd Tidwell; and a brother, Elbert Chavis.
She is survived by her daughters, Myrtle (David C.) Diamond of McDavid, Fla.,Paula (Frank) Whitfield of Pensacola, Fla., Ann (Ben) West of Jay, Joan (Jeff) Struebing of Pace, Fla. and Mary Bovia of Mandeville, La.; sons, James Kelley of Gulf Breeze, Fla., Buck (Glenda) Kelley of Bogia, Fla., Tink (Annie Ruth) Kelley,  Jerry (Walterene) Kelley, and Houston Kelley, all of Jay; 24 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Cora Baptist Church. Burial followed at Cora Baptist Cemetery with Jay Funeral Home directing.