Betty Alma Freeman Kelly of York-town, Va., was received into the loving arms of our heavenly Father on March 30, 2025 with her children at her bedside. Betty was born on March 23, 1933 and was preceded in death by her loving husband of 49 years, Jesse Cleveland Kelly; her parents, Herbert Lendo Freeman and Emma Janette Parks Freeman; brothers, Herbert Lendo Freeman Jr. and Robert Freeman; daughter-in-law, Alisa Kelly, and sister, Ada Mae Tew.
Betty was always fun-loving and the life of the party; her smile could light up any room with her presence. Betty was a very active founding member of Deer Park Baptist Church where she served as the Director of WMU, was extremely active in mission work, was a member of the church choir, and taught multiple children’s programs.
Betty joined her daughter Laraine and became a member of Gloucester Point Baptist Church, and continued to touch many lives. She was very active in her community. In 1965, Betty formed the Piney Point Garden Club which is still in existence today.
Betty was employed by the College of William and Mary for 20 years as the administrative assistant to the Dean of Student activities.
Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, organizing, homemaking and creating a house to be a loving and Christian home.
She is survived by daughter, Laraine Kelly-Sentz, her husband, K.C. Sentz; and son Michael Lendo Kelly and his wife, Lisa C. Kelly; granddaughters, Kelly M. Hubbard, Ashley N. Banks and husband David Banks, Stephanie L. Connor and husband Patrick Connor; grandsons, Jason H. Dominguez, wife Jenna Dominguez; Jesse R. Dominguez, wife Rochelle Dominquez; Noah Housh, wife Nicole Housh; Tyler J. Kelly and wife Amber Kelly. Betty was a loving grandmother to 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Betty is also survived by her significant other, Dean Short, who was her loving companion of 12 years. Dean and Betty loved to travel the world to include everything from parasailing, ziplining and camel-riding in Egypt.
A funeral service officiated by Pastor Dillon Evans will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Gloucester Point Baptist Church. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10-10:45 a.m. Interment will follow at 1 p.m. in Peninsula Memorial Park.
In our loved one’s memory, donations may be made to WMU at Gloucester Point Baptist Church, 7741 Terrapin Cove Road, Gloucester Point, Va. 23062.
Services under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point.