April 23, 2013

Mary Maiden Kellam

Funeral for Mary Maiden Kellam, 81, will be Thur., April 25, at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Chuck Bass and Harold Fanning officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.

Visitation will be Thur., April 25, from 1-3 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Riverbend Cemetery in Marion, Va. and with Bradley Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Kellam died Tues., April 23, 2013, at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She was born Feb. 14, 1932, in Virginia to Virgil Earnest Maiden and Lessie Mae Hart Maiden. Her care for the mentally challenged was very rewarding for her. She cared for them as if they were her very own. Her home was their home, where love abounded. She began a special ministries class for her foster boys at Shoal Creek Baptist Church.

There she was active with the Senior Saint’s Program, “Ladies with a Focus”, the Lamplighters, and Missions Programs. She was an active member of the United Daughters of America, “DAR,” Daughters of the American Revolution, and the American Legion Auxiliary. Mary was a veteran’s advocate. She was a member of Bethel Homemakers and planned Christmas parties for local Nursing Home patients. She loved to travel and she walked where Jesus walked and now rests at His feet. Her favorite Bible verse and motto came from Philippians 1:3.

Mary’s husband, Clebert M. Kellam preceded her in death. He was a retiree from Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Mich. She was also preceded by her parents and eight brothers and sisters, Wayne Maiden, Kenneth Maiden, Dean Maiden, Earnest Maiden, Louis Gale Maiden, Dorothy Louise Maiden, Sharon Mason and Betty Lee Moore.

In lieu of flowers: Memorial contributions may be sent to the “Ladies with Focus” Shoal Creek Baptist Church.

A special “thank-you” to Mary’s loving caregiver, Lee Ann McDaniel and her entire family for their continued love and care.

She is survived by a son, Jimmy Gates and wife Marilyn of Duffield, Va; a brother, Everette Maiden of Mexico Beach, Fla.; five sisters, Margaret Johnson, Mildred Earnest and Shirley Blevins, all of Marion, Joyce Cofield of Valdosta, Ga., and Linda Marcum, Cave City, Ky.; three grandchildren, Kerri Landress, Jennifer Medina and Andy Gates; three great-grandchildren, Gavin, Brittany and Justin; and numerous nieces and nephews.