Fallen Hero: Retired Sergeant First Class Donny Lee Kelly

Tupelo

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Funeral Home

Holland Funeral Directors

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Obituary

Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary 

Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”

In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.

Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on February 15, 2024, and has moved on to his heavenly home.  Retired Sergeant First Class Donny Lee Kelly, age 61, who had served in the MSARNG within the Det. 1, HHC 1/149 Aviation, 185th Aviation Brigade and 1108th AVCRAD, has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord.  Kelly, also had served in USMC.

It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country.  A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.

Rest in Peace Soldier.  We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright, and live so free.

You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.

Another great Soldier has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life”.

Obituary, Visitation, and Service details:  

Chesterville Community – Donny Lee Kelly, 61, of Tupelo, MS passed away Thursday,February 15, 2024, at his home. He was born in Tupelo, MS on March 29, 1962, the son of the late Claude “Sonny” Kelly and Shirley Wilson Kelly Davis. He was a graduate of Mooreville High School, and soon after enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He finished his military career in the Mississippi National Guard, retiring in 2022. He had several business ventures including Kelly’s Grocery in Palmetto, Chesterville Grocery in Tupelo, West Main Gun and Pawn in Tupelo, and years of employment at Hunter’s Haven in Tupelo. He married his high school sweetheart, Penny (Orsborn) Kelly, on October 21, 1983, and they remained a devoted and affectionate couple until his passing. He was a colorful and well-known member of the Chesterville Community. A skilled conversationalist, he would always talk if someone would listen. He was a talented salesman, carpenter, businessman, and could fix anything mechanical. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, working on his old Chevrolet trucks, and working his land with tractors. He loved to buy, sell, and trade on just about anything. Most of all he was a family man. Donny loved to spend time with his grandchildren, he was a doting and devoted husband, and there was nothing in the world he would not have done for his three sons.

A service celebrating his life, with military honors, will be held at 2 PM Monday, Feb. 19, 2024 in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Minister Kerry Williams officiating. Private family burial will follow in the Old Chesterville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 AM-service time on Monday only at Holland Funeral Directors, which is honored to be serving their friends.

Donny is survived by his wife, Penny Kelly; his sons and daughters-in-law, Casey Kelly (Jackie), Justin Kelly (Amara) and Austin Kelly (Brooke) all of Chesterville; his 14 grandchildren whom he cherished, Noah Kelly, Canaan Kelly, Sparrow Kelly, Isiah Kelley, Nate Kelley, Jaida Kelley, Eli Brown, Lyla Brown, Antonia Kelly, Giselle Kelly, Lilly Kelly, Emma Kelly, Curtis Kelly, and Wyatt “Donny Jr” Kelly; his sister, Teresa Mason (Greg) of Chesterville and a brother, Jimbo Adams of Nettleton; a special aunt, Diane Whitt of Okolona; a host of nieces and nephews and their families, and countless friends. Donny was preceded in death by his parents, Sonny Kelly and Shirley Davis.

Pallbearers will be Jimbo Adams, Dan Porch, Jeremy Kelly, Tim Boyd, Tommy Bickerstaff, Buck Yarbrough, Richard Rowland, and Tim Bell. Honorary Pallbearers will be all his grandchildren.

For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Livestreaming. Condolences may be emailedto hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net (662 840 5000)