Janet Marie Jones Kelley Obituary

Janet Marie Jones Kelley, beloved mother, grandmother, friend, and woman of extraordinary grace and warmth, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the age of 102. Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, on February 26, 1923, Janet was the daughter of the late Janet Crawford Jones and Jessie Jones. She attended Mary Baldwin College, where she cultivated a refined sense of culture and intellect that would carry through every aspect of her life.
After college, Janet married the love of her life, Edgar Frances "Ike" Kelley, beginning a devoted partnership filled with joy, resilience, and unwavering support. She began her professional life working with the University of Virginia Dermatology Group, but joyfully became a full-time mother after the birth of her daughter, Lisa, followed by her son, Mark. In 1963, the Kelley family relocated to Atlanta, where they settled in Decatur on Montevallo Circle-a place she would call home for over 50 years. Janet later returned to the workforce with the Centers for Disease Control.
In her later years, Janet moved to Newnan in 2021 to live with her daughter, Lisa, and son-in-law, Jack, and eventually became a resident at Westhill Newnan, where she continued to bring warmth and beauty to those around her.
Janet's life was a reflection of creativity, hospitality, and love. A gifted artist, she painted oil portraits of still life, florals, landscapes, and especially those closest to her heart-her grandchildren and even her granddogs. She found deep joy in gardening - planting and nurturing flowers, always drawn to the sunshine that mirrored her own inner light.
Janet was the consummate hostess, known for her floral arrangements and elegance of her tables prepared for every occasion from birthdays to Easter and Christmas. She had a gift for making everyone feel special. Her cookie box was legendary, always filled and ready. No one ever left her home without a treat bag and the feeling of having been deeply cared for.
More than anything, Janet nurtured others with her unwavering love, quiet strength, and kindness. Her faith and life were inseparable, woven together in every word and act of grace. She will be greatly missed by her children, extended family, and friends.
Janet is survived by her daughter, Lisa (Jack) Dempsey; her son, Mark Kelley; her beloved and cherished grandchildren, Dr. Amanda Ridgeway, MD, her husband, John, and sons, Luke and Adam, Dr. Melissa Dempsey, Amber Kelley and her daughter, Sherilyn, and Jonathan Kelley and his wife, Kelli, and daughters, Avery and Brynn; special niece and nephew, Jessica and David Jones of Virginia; and several other extended family members.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Floral Hills Memory Gardens, 3000 Lawrenceville Hwy., Tucker, GA 30084.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Janet's memory by planting a flower in her name, sharing a homemade treat with someone you love, or simply sitting in the sunshine she so adored.
McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory, 770-253-4580