Mary Theresa Kelly

Sis. Mary Theresa Kelly was born on March 9, 1933, to the late Henry Toles and Willie Mae (Toles) Earl in Barton, Mississippi. She entered eternal rest on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 with her Bible in her arms. She was the middle sister of three. She is survived by her older sister, Lillie Mae Garrison. Her younger Sister Ella Lee Miller is now deceased.

Her parents moved their family to Memphis, Tennessee when the girls were young children. It was there that Sis. Kelly grew up, met and married the late Lon Kelly and later the late Russell Walker.  Sister Kelly was the loving mother to eight (8) children: Gregory (Greg) L. Kelly (deceased), Gerald (Jerry) W. Kelly (deceased), Harold (H.D.) D. Kelly (deceased), Russell L. Kelly, Ray Marvin Walker (deceased), Kenneth E. Walker, Willie Marie (Walker) Mullin and Gail O. Walker.

Sis. Kelly worked for many years at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Special Diets while at the same time she worked part-time at Rivermont Hotel as a Hat Check Girl. Later in life she worked at Help Childcare Daycare Center and lastly The Children’s Museum of Memphis until she retired.

Sis. Kelly was baptized at Oakville Christian Church and later at Oakville Church of Christ where she served as church secretary, and assistant to the church Treasurer, as well as teaching 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School. She later placed her membership at the Boulevard Church of Christ where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School until her retirement. She was an active member of the Ladies Willing Workers Program.

After Moving to Dallas, Texas in 1997, Sis. Kelly attended Cliff View Church of Christ where she was an active member of the Ladies Bible Class. In 2002, she placed her membership at Greenville Avenue Church of Christ where she remained until her death. At GACC she was a member of the Young At Heart and worked in communion preparation until her health began to fail.

Sis. Kelly leaves her two remaining sons: Russell “Rikki” Kelly, Kenneth “Kenny” Walker (spouse, Doris); daughters, Willie Marie “Sister” Walker Mullin, and Gail Walker; one sister, Lillie Mae Garrion, 15 grandchildren, more than 30 great grandchildren, multiple great great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, brothers and sisters-in-Christ, and friends to forever cherish her loving memory.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Theresa Kelly, please visit our floral store.