Susan Frances Bowman Kelly

Susan Frances Bowman Kelly died on 06/27/2018 after a wonderful and well lived life. She was born on July 19, 1926 in Johnson City TN, the second of three daughters to the late Zeph McLeod and Adam B. Bowman. Susan was raised in Johnson City and attended school there. Susan graduated from National College of Education, now National-Lewis University in Evanston, IL with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She earned her Masters in Education from UNC Chapel Hill and taught First Grade at Myers Park Elementary School. She was also on the faculty of the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, now the University of North Carolina Greensboro where she was the Director of the Kindergarten at the Curry School. She also hosted an educational children's program in 1952 on UNC-TV. Susan moved to Charlotte when she married Dr. Luther W. Kelly, Jr. in December 1956 and has been active in the Charlotte community ever since. Susan was devoted to Luther and supported him and their family as well as the community. In the early years of their marriage, she volunteered at Presbyterian Hospital, now Novant Presbyterian Medical Center, and served on numerous community boards for many years. She served on the board of the Charlotte Nature Museum where her mother-in-law, Charlotte Kelly, (Mrs. Luther W. Kelly, Sr.), was the Astronomer and gave countless Planetarium shows to area school children and the public for many years. Susan also served on the boards of the Florence Crittenton Services, Wing Haven Society, Wing Haven Foundation, Friends of the Library of Queens College and also served as President of these boards. She was on the board of the Hezekiah Alexander Homesite, YWCA where she served as Vice President and was on the Queens University Friends of the Library Advisory board for many years. Susan was a Sunday School teacher, Brownie Scout leader, Girl Scout Cookie Sale chairwoman for her daughter's troop and was an active volunteer in the schools her children attended. She was active in her church, and was honored as a Lifetime Member of the Presbyterian Women. In her younger years, she enjoyed her bridge club, gardening, growing roses and arranging flowers, sewing, cooking and tried for years to play at golf. She was still an active member of the Colonia Book Club, one of the oldest in Charlotte. She was also a member of the Charlotte Country Club. Travel was another of Susan's great loves. She and Luther enjoyed many wonderful trips together across the US and the world. Family and friends were of utmost importance to Susan. She was a wonderful cook and a gracious and superb hostess. She enjoyed parties immensely, both hosting and attending. Susan was famous for her breakfast picnics at Elk River in Banner Elk. She especially enjoyed tea parties. She loved to have tea parties for the little girls in her neighborhood and later for her grandchildren. She particularly enjoyed High Tea with her grandson on several trips they took. When her granddaughter started Kindergarten Susan started an annual tradition of a Back to School Ice Cream party. She and Luther had Spoon's Ice Cream truck come to their house for many years and invited friends and neighbors of all ages to come for ice cream. She was an artist at flower arranging and always had fresh flowers in her home, many that she grew herself. She was diligent in keeping up with relatives and friends and was wonderful at writing letters, sending cards as well as visiting over the phone. Susan's Christmas gift list was so long she would shop all year and it would take from before Thanksgiving until Christmas several afternoons a week to make all her deliveries. Susan was a very kind, generous, loving person and had a world of friends of all ages all over the county and beyond. Susan had deep faith and a strong belief in God. Susan was predeceased by her husband, Luther, her parents, both her sisters, son, Bowman, and her daughter-in-law. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lu and Mark Leatherman of Charlotte, grandson, Steven Leatherman of Greer, SC, granddaughter Suzanne Choiniere, her husband, Thomas and great grandsons Luke and William Choiniere all of Matthews, NC. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and cousins. Visitation will be at Southminster Retirement Community from 2-4pm on Sunday, July 1. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Susan B. Kelly will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Monday, July 2 at 2pm, family will receive friends following the service. Memorials may be sent to Friends of the Library at Queens University, Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary, First Presbyterian Church. Celebration of Life Monday, July 2, 2018 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM First Presbyterian Church 200 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202 Charlotte NC 28202 United States (704) 332-5123