Doris Kelly

Doris Jean Kelly, 78, went to join the Lord on Monday, April 12, 2010, at home in Charlotte. She was born in Richmond County, North Carolina, on May 1, 1931, the daughter of the late Ira Ruff Kelly and Mabel Clemmer Kelly. Her grandfather, A. J. Clemmer, was a preacher and a sawmill man, instilling in her a love for the Lord and for working with wood, about which she was very knowledgeable. She attended school and high school in Rockingham, North Carolina and Hamlet, North Carolina. She was always interested in learning more about everything, and all of her life was involved in educating herself about using tools, landscaping, advances in medicine, and anything else that interested her. Upon going to Charlotte, North Carolina, in the 1950s, she started working for real estate lawyer J. Louis Carter. Later, Mr Carter?s son, J.L. (Jippy) Carter Jr., joined him and she continued working with them as a legal secretary for 45 years, also working on estates. She was married in August of 1956 to James Eugene Runyans, and they had a son, James Eugene Runyans Jr. She loved her friends, family and her church family from Christian Life Center here in Charlotte, and will be sorely missed by everyone. She and her friend of 37 years, Lindsay Brown, raised orphaned cats and dogs for 30+ years in their kennel, designed by Doris and built in the 1980s to house the animals. She is survived by her son James E. Runyans, Jr. and his family, and many cousins on both her mother?s and father?s sides. A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 16, at Sharon Memorial Park, with Pastor Mark Matthews officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 15, at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd.