Carol McMinn Kelly

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Carol McMinn Kelly, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Despite facing numerous medical challenges, she persevered with grace and strength. Carol passed away peacefully on November 15, 2023, surrounded by her family; she was 87 years young.

Carol was born on February 11, 1936, in Laurel, Mississippi, to Jaye Alton and Belva Holston McMinn. She was a gifted student and graduated from Gulfport High School class of 1952 at the age of 16. After graduation, Carol pursued a career with Hancock Bank and later Keesler Federal Credit Union, where she met the love of her life, a young, good looking Air Force Lieutenant, Jack Kelly. Jack was instantly smitten with Carol, a beautiful woman herself, she was the reigning “Miss Keesler”. Later in life, she pursued a career in law as a legal secretary.

Carol was an avid bridge player and a member of various civic and social organizations, including the Officers Wives Club, Chamber of Commerce, Pass Christian Yachet Club, the Garden Club, and the Ladies Auxiliary of Trinity Episcopal Church, where she was also a member. Carol was known for her fashion sense and her ability to look perfectly put together, regardless of how she felt. She loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and animals. She was a lover of art, music, and literature, a wonderful storyteller with a dry wit, and an incredible cook. Carol was a well-traveled person who raised her family all over the world. She drove herself and her family from London, England to Naples, Italy, brushed her teeth in a fountain in France, and watched Jack run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. She was always up for an exciting adventure!

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col John Horace “Jack” Kelly, daughter, Rebecca Elizabeth Kelly’ grandson, Jack Kelly; her parents, Jaye and Belva McMinn, and sister Amelia Ann Shoemake.

Carol is survived by her four children and their spouses, Debra Woolsey and Dr. James Huntington Odom, II, Rachel Amelia and Andrew Wesley Browne, Jaye Scott and Dana Dunaway Kelly, and Julie Amanda and Robert Jerome Calhoun. She is also survived by ten grandchildren: Lauren Gutierrez Chambers, Thomas Andrew and Lydia Cadaret Browne, James Huntington, III, and Jaime Glas Odom, Gabrielle Elizabeth Browne, Meghan Lynn Kelly, Hannah Grace Anding, Emily Elizabeth Calhoun, Molly Elizabeth Anding, Ian Kelly Calhoun, and John Scott Kelly; and three great-grandchildren, John Wesley Chambers, Emerie Lynn Mingo, and Mary Huntington Chambers.

A visitation celebration Carol and her late husband Jack will be held from 1:30-2:00 PM, Friday, December 1, 2023, at Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 125 Church Avenue, Pass Christian, MS, 39571. A memorial mass will begin at 2:00 PM.

In memory of her, and in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Friends of the Baton Rouge Animals Dog Adoption House or a charity of your choice.

The family would like to express their gratitude to all the staff at Gulfport Memorial Hospital and Enhabit Home Health who made Carol’s end-of-life comfortable.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, is serving the family. Please visit www.riemannfamily.com where memories and photos may be shared.