Hannah Beeks Pitts Kelly passed away on Saturday, November 26,2016, at The Blake Assisted Living Facility in Oxford, MS. Known as Hannah to most of her friends and affectionately called "Beeks" by her late husband Kelly, Mrs. Kelly was born November 4, 1926, in Ecru, MS, to Edd H. Pitts and Laura Phifer Pitts.
A 1944 graduate of Ecru High School and a 1948 graduate of the University of Mississippi, Hannah played on the Ole Miss tennis and golf teams throughout college.
She met and married the love of her life, Harold Kelly, and they both had a great passion for Ole Miss athletics, a devotion that continued for the rest of their lives. Hannah was the Yazoo City Country Club Golf Champion for as long as she played, and her love for the sport led her to organize and run the Ace Parker, Jr. Golf Tournament for many years, an event in which she touched many young lives. While living in Yazoo City, Hannah was employed at Mississippi Chemical Corporation for many years.
Last, but not least, Hannah was a beloved and devoted member of First United Methodist Church in Yazoo City for 64 years, where she first served in the Chancel Choir and was a pianist and then organist for 40 years. She was also a member of the church's Hand Bell Choir as well as a member of the music program for the youth there.
Mrs. Kelly was preceded in death by Harold C. Kelly, her husband of 63 years; her sister Laura Ruth Pitts Nesbit; and her parents. She is survived by her nephew Mike Nesbit (Nancy) of Ecru; her niece Carol Clendenon of Clinton; her grand-nephews Ben Nesbit (Judy Lynn) of Oxford, and Clay and Casey Clendenon of Katy, TX; and her grand-niece Kelly Waggoner (Marcus) of Denver, CO.
Visitation will be Tuesday, November 29,2016, from 12:30-2:00 pm at First United Methodist Church of Yazoo City with the funeral service to follow at 2:00.
Reverend Bill Poole will preside over the funeral service. Burial will be Wednesday, November 30, at 1 :00 pm at the Ecru Cemetery with Reverend Jimmy Criddle presiding.
All services are under the direction of Stricklin- King Funeral Home of Yazoo City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be made to the First United Methodist Church of Yazoo City or to the Ole Miss Foundation.
