Almeria Cotton Kelly Obituary (1916 - 2017)

Almeria Cotton Kelly, affectionately known as Merle, Aunt Merle, Auntie, and Ms. Kelly to her nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends, was born of the third set of twins to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Cotton on January 19, 1916 in Overton, Texas. She was the eleventh of thirteen siblings born in the Andrew Cotton family and considered herself the "last boll of cotton on the Andrew Cotton stalk". She accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and was baptized at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Overton, Texas. As an adult she united with the True Vine Baptist Church of Tyler, Texas under the pastoral leadership of the late Rev. M. P. Timms. Almeria met and married Oliver Kelly in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and to this union two sons were born - Jimmie D. and Weldon Kelly. Both of her sons served admirably in the United States Army. The Kelly family moved to Los Angeles, California and became faithful members of The Love of God Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Rev. William Barnett, Jr. Ms. Kelly was an excellent cook and she worked as a domestic for the movie star Ross Martin of the Wild Wild West TV series. She also worked for many years in the home of a prominent Los Angeles lawyer, Edgar and Helen Frazier. She loved gardening and enjoyed flowers of all kinds. She especially loved dogs remembering her dog Missy. She always supported various ministries and enjoyed listening to religious programming on TV. When her health began to fail she moved to Austin, Texas to be closer to her twin sister Alree Cotton Miller (Marie or Mama Ree). She united with the St. James Missionary Baptist Church and enjoyed contributing to the building fund and was faithful with her tithes and offerings. Ms. Kelly was very independent and was able to live alone at a late age with assistance from her niece and nephew, Louise and Aaron Radford. One of her favorite sayings was "I know how to travel". She was also supported by the neighbors of Coronado Hills who paid regular visits with their pets, and kept a watch over her home. Neighbors such as Geraldine Hill, Karen Agnew, Jackie and Daryl Galloway, Alicia Hathaway, Linda Robinson, Ilinda and James Williams, John and Beatrice Orth, who provided a support network of love and care for her. Ms. Kelly was preceded in death by all twelve of her siblings, her husband and sons. She leaves to mourn in passing her devoted niece and nephew, Louise and Aaron Radford; two granddaughters, Ms. Kinda Kelley and Ms. Myesha McDaniel of Los Angeles, California; six great grandchildren; and a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.