Dr. Rhonda Kelley

Dr. Rhonda Denise Kelley, daughter of the late John Wesley Kelley and Helen Johnson Kelley, was born on January 9, 1955. She was the third of three children. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Angela Evita Kelley and Shonnette B. Kelley.

At an early age, she accepted Christ and joined Concord Missionary Baptist Church in Forest, Mississippi. She was active in the church choir and Baptist Training Union (BTU) and faithfully served in various auxiliaries throughout her years of membership.

In June 1984, she married Jimmy Brown. To this union, two devoted sons were born: Jimmy L. Brown III and John Wesley Kelley Brown.

Her career as an educator began in 1996 at Inglewood Christian School. In 1997, she and her family relocated to Forest, Mississippi, where she continued her faithful membership at Concord Missionary Baptist Church. That same year, she began teaching at Forest Elementary School, where she served for 28 years until her retirement in 2025.

She was a proud and active member of several professional and community organizations, including the National Education Association, Mississippi Association of Educators, Mississippi State University Alumni Association (Scott County Chapter), Jackson State University Alumni Association, Scott County Community Group 15, and served as Program Coordinator for the CWAC 21st Century Community Learning Program. She was the founder of the MS Ebony Scott Beauty Pageant.

Her commitment to education was reflected in her academic accomplishments. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mississippi State University in 1992. She later received a Master of Arts in Teaching, Elementary Education, from Jackson State University in 2002. In 2018, she earned a Doctorate Degree in Educational Teacher Leadership from Walden University. Dr. Kelley was a star teacher, donor, and volunteer for Legacy Education & Community Empowerment Foundation. She cherished her work with the foundation and her co-workers.

Dr. Kelley was also an active member of the Scott County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People where in January 2026 she was honored with the NAACP Image Award for Excellence in Education. Whether she was dressed for church or work or on a leisure outing, Rhonda would arrive in style in her favorite color purple.

She will be remembered for her unwavering faith, her love for family, and her lifelong dedication to educating and inspiring others. Her legacy will continue through the many lives she touched as a teacher, mentor, and servant leader.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories two loving and devoted sons, Jimmy L. Brown III and John Wesley Kelley Brown; one step-sister, Vernetta Barton of Walnut Grove, Mississippi, one niece, Yonkardia Lewing of Houston, Texas; two great-nieces, Jamiyah Mattox-Davis (Xavier) of Houston, Texas, and Brooklyn Thomas of Long Beach, Mississippi; one great-great-nephew and one great-great niece, Kaiden Mattox and Kalia Davis; aunt, Lula Kelley of Forest, Mississippi, and a multitude of loving cousins, dear friends, colleagues, and all whose lives she touched.