Joan Kelley

Joan Ann Santos Kelley, 72, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, August 4 , 2023 at the Levine Dickson Hospice House at Aldersgate in Charlotte, NC after a brief illness.

Joan was proud to be of Cape Verdean descent. She was born to the late Daniel Antonio and Teresa Fernandez Santos on August 15, 1950, in New Haven, CT. She was the youngest of ten children, growing up in a home full of love and Cape Verdean culture. That culture included Cape Verdean food, picnics, and other social events. Her family faithfully attended St. Martin de Porres Catholic church and she attended school there until the eighth grade. She graduated from St. Mary’s high school in New Haven in 1968 and completed her collegiate academic studies at the University of Connecticut in 1972, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. During her time at UCONN, she was involved with the Black Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir and the African American Cultural Center, where she was instrumental in bringing in guests like Alex Hailey and Muhammed Ali to the campus. She did all of this with her college sweetheart, Herbert J. Kelley Jr., whom she met her freshman year. It was during that time that she and Herb learned the goodness of the Lord and they both accepted the Lord as their savior. Their spiritual foundation began at St. John’s Full Gospel Deliverance Center under the tutelage of Apostle John E. Wilson in Hartford, CT. They were married on September 2, 1972, and from this union they were blessed with two miracle blessings, Arianna Rose and Herbert Santos. They were married for 30 years until Herb’s untimely passing in 2003.

Joan has always been an overcomer and in 2001, she overcame breast cancer. Since that time, she has always been an advocate in the cancer community.

Joan was a faithful, servant leader in many capacities in the ministries that she has been a part of, including United Prayer Deliverance Center in Bridgeport, CT and thirty years of service at Victory Christian Center,, when her family relocated from Connecticut to North Carolina. Some of the roles that she has held over the years include Sunday school teacher, choir director, events coordinator, director of décor and logistics, leader with an Agape Team (serving the local homeless community) and most recently the president of Journey 2 Joy (a group serving widows and widowers within the church) among many other groups too many to name. She always had her hand to the plow and continued to serve
until her illness earlier this year.

Joan was very talented in the world of décor and was always called upon to put her own personal touch wherever she decorated. She also coordinated many weddings throughout the years and provided floral direction as well. After the loss of her husband, Joan had a heart for those who also experienced the loss of a spouse. She had an anointing to create personalized boxes for those dealing with grief or going through the journey of healing. These boxes were a blessing to many over the years. She served so many and was not just busy doing the Lord’s work, but productive in all that she did. If she had an idea, she would stick with it until she executed her plan.

Those that preceded her in death include her beloved husband, Herbert Joseph Kelley Jr., her parents, Daniel Antonio and Teresa Fernandez Santos, siblings, Claudia Silva, Frances Jackson, Elizabeth Lewis, Daniel Santos Jr., and Michael Santos. She is survived by her children Arianna Anderson (Gerald) and Herbert Kelley (Chevon) both of Charlotte, NC. Siblings Rose Santos, New Haven, CT; Mary Santos, Lithonia, GA; Teresa Santos Jones, West Haven, CT; and Gloria Santos Goode, Turnersville, NJ. In-Laws, Connie Kelley-Sidberry (William), Garner, NC; Aurelia Wheeler, CT; and Carolyn Howell (Vincent), Clemmons, NC, along with of host of special nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends and acquaintances. She had two very special friends, Madeline Hanchard, Shelton, CT (friends since the 8th grade) and Mary Land, Charlotte, NC.

Joan was loved by many and during her brief illness, that love was displayed in many ways. She was a loving, intentional, encouraging person who gave many words of wisdom and nuggets for many to use. The last nugget given to a friend, while in hospice, was to be sweet and love everyone; that was Joan’s mantra that she lived by daily. She loved Jesus, her family and everyone she encountered and if you had any sort of interaction with her, she made sure you felt loved and knew that you were special. We thank God for the time that we had with her on earth and know that she is enjoying heaven, and we will miss her presence immensely.

LINK FOR SERVICE LIVESTREAM: https://www.youtube.com/live/BNcPivOJQoQ?si=yzG_FJY2aawyYkPb