Johnnie E. Kelley

Nothing expresses love more than the birth of a child. Love was manifested through Eva (Ellerbee) Kelley and Johnnie Kelley on September 24, 1941 in Bethune, SC with the birth of their first son Johnnie Edward Kelley. After a fulfilled life, he slept away peacefully on Tuesday, November 10th, 2020 in Lawrenceville, GA. The family relocated to Paterson, NJ when Johnnie was three months old, and his journey began. During his time here on earth, Johnnie aka Kelley, lived a life that was full of love and happiness. Even if there were tough times, he always showed his best. He received his early education in the Paterson Pubic Schools. At the age of 19, he met the "new" girl in town, Jessie Grant. They became one on July 29, 1962 and shared a lifetime of love for 55 years. They were the talk of the town following their double wedding ceremony with lifelong friends Pete & Emma. It was the largest the town had seen, in fact many still share fond memories of that joyful day. He was best known around town as the barber from "Mop City Barbershop". He was a master stylist and kept both his male and female clients looking sharp. They were proud to have the "Kelley" touch and the BEST process in town! He was a successful business man and an entrepreneur at heart. Of his many ventures he was most proud of being the proprietor of the West Broadway Pool & Game Room. He took pride in seeing people at the height of their joyful moments in life. Always innovative, he may have been ahead of his time with one of the first food trucks of his era. The millennials have nothing on Kelley, he could say, been there, done that! Most of all, Kelley, loved life and all that it had to offer, and he embraced it every day and in every situation. He was pre-deceased in death by his parents, his loving wife Jesse Grant Kelley, his son and daughter Craig Cook and Amanda Earl, granddaughter Kwashonda Reed, sister Ella Mae Coleman and his baby brother Muhammad-Sharrieff Abdullah. Remembering him forever and a day are, his loving children, Wayne Guthrie (Rolanda) and Eric Ward (Kim) of Maryland, Kim Kelley-Thaxton (Mark) and Garnetta Kelley-Nelson (Tony) of Georgia; 22 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; siblings Catherine Powell and Fredie Saboor Kelley (Pat); aunt Almeta Brown; special cousin/friend Kenny Reams; lifelong friend Gordon Alexander; many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors of the Riverview Towers. When life comes to its end, many will say, "should have, would have, could have…" but Johnnie Kelley lived life to its fullest, he embraced every opportunity to see the good in people and he bowed out gracefully. He will forever be remembered for his cool swag, his loving heart and his kind spirit. Loved by many, missed by all…