Deaconess Estelle Patricia Kennedy transitioned from this earthly place to the arms of her Heavenly Father at the Advent-Health Hospice Center in Palm Coast, Florida on Saturday morning, July 13, 2024.  She passed away at the age of 91 after living a full life impacting mostly everyone she met.  She was born in Marion, South Carolina to her mother, Ethel Davis Kennedy and her father, Jesse Kennedy.  Baptized at a young age, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.

Deaconess Kennedy graduated from Central High School in Whiteville, NC as salutatorian in 1952.  In September of 1952, she moved to New York.  She went there with a dream of preparing herself for a life of useful service to others.  She dreamed of attending nursing school and becoming a nurse.  After finding employment, she joined the Tried-Stone Baptist Church in Bronx, NY. In February of 1965, she relocated to the Bronx and joined Trinity Baptist Church near where she lived.  Again, she became an active member teaching Sunday school, was a member of Group IV, the Senior Missionary Society, the Welcome Committee and the Calendar Month of Birthdays.  Deaconess Kennedy was a strong and intentional supporter of education and the youth.  She established a scholarship in memory of her mother and her older sister Irene at Trinity.

She began her career with the New York City Mission Society and retired from Calvary Hospital in the Bronx as the Director of Medical Records.  She was very proud of her accomplishment and thanked God for allowing her to reach the goal of director.  While working, Deaconess Kennedy attended Iona University in New Rochelle, NY earning a Bachelor of Science degree and also a Master of Science Degree in Public Health and Administration,

After visiting friends from New York in Palm Coast, she purchased land and chose a floor plan to have a home built.  She attended Palm Coast United Methodist Church before joining Mount Calvary Baptist Church.  As a deaconess at Mount Calvary, she worked diligently and faithfully until her health declined. She never hesitated talking about the goodness of God with the young and old.  She served in the following roles: member of the Scholarship Ministry, Sunday School teacher, member of the Manassas Tribe and Deaconess Board as long as she was able.  She also presented a scholarship annually to a young person pursuing a college education in memory of her mother and sister Irene at Calvary.

She traveled extensively and thoroughly enjoyed visiting Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples, Dakar, Senegal, West Africa, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand (Bangkok), Egypt, Israel, Puerto Rico, Korea, Amsterdam as well as annual cruises around her birthday.  Her travel friend was Barbara Garland; a close friend from 1958. She enjoyed listening to music, the arts and theater.

She was a trooper with few complaints who fought a good fight.  Estelle stayed on the battlefield for the Lord through it all.  It was obvious that she loved the Lord, her family, the Mount Calvary church family.

Family was important and she shared her knowledge of her family's heritage. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers:  JB (James), Jesse, Jr., Harry, Isaac and Walter; sisters: Irene, Rebecca and Carolyn.

Those remaining to share memories of her life are:  Marilou Kennedy Moore of Palm Coast, sister; nephews: Rev. Dr. Kenneth Davis (Kathy), Andrew Davis (Yvette), Attorney Curtis Davis (Michele), Steve Kennedy, Dennis Mallory, and Robert Moore, Jr.; nieces: Dr. Cynthia Kelly, Angela Davis, Cynthia Kennedy, Desiree Jones, Michelle Kennedy, Deborah Jones-Davis and Wendy Jones.  She was blessed with numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews and a host of cousins.  She had three special sisters; 'not of the blood but as close as blood sisters': Quida Green, Betty Donaldson and Sylena Sweeney.

Memories of her life and love will remain as treasures in our hearts.