"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." – John 11:25

On March 15, 2023, the Lord called home, Doris Marie Willis-Kelly.  Doris was born in Jennings, LA to the late Clarence Willis, Sr. and Mary Jacko Willis on April 20, 1939.  She accepted the Lord at an early age and was baptized at age 11 at Golden Chain Baptist Church in Elton, LA and she was baptized in Jesus name at United Pentecostal Church in Evangeline, LA in 1986.  Doris was a graduate of Jeff Davis High School, and she was one of the top five in the class of 1957. In August 1957, she was joined in holy matrimony to Nathaniel Kelly, and to that union they had four children together.

Doris worked at Jennings American Legion Hospital in housekeeping, was a store manager at Murphy Mart and retired from Diamond Shamrock/Valero where she worked for over 30 years.  After retiring she worked for her church and in her many flower beds until she couldn't work anymore because of Alzheimer's.  We were blessed because she was able to walk around her house and sit on her back porch in her rocking chair waiting for her flowers to bloom until the moment, she took her last breath.  Doris later became a life-long member of Mt. Triumph Baptist Church in Jennings, LA.  Two of her favorite bible scriptures were John 11:25 and Isaiah 57:12.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Nathaniel Kelly; her parents, Clarence and Mary Willis; two sisters, Dorothy "Susie" Willis and Ella Mae Willis; her brother, Clarence Willis, Jr.

Doris leaves to cherish her loving memories, her three daughters, Ericka Hartman (Paul), Cheryl Kelly, and Myrna Kelly; her son, Cedric Kelly; seven grandchildren, Carmen, Lalanya, Chandler, Jamal, Ian, Boston, Kendall; three great grandchildren, Herby, Madison, and Tianna; two bonus children, Rozethel Kelly and Tyrone Livings along with his daughters, Towanda & Tyriesha; four Godchildren, Angela LeBlanc, Tionne Cormier, Reginald Willis and Erroll Reed, Sr.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 1 P.M. Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Mt. Triumph Baptist Church in Jennings, LA.  Reverend Carl M. Fontenot, Sr. will officiate.  Visiting will be in the church starting at 12 P.M. until the time of Celebration Services.  Burial will be in Peterson Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Semien-Lewis Mortuary of Jennings, LA.