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Mamie Williams Kelley: One of the Most Popular Matrons of Lawrenceville

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Mamie Williams
Wife of Otis S. Kelley
July 7, 1888
Aug 28, 1921

Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia

Photo © 2010/1 S. Lincecum
Mamie Craig Williams was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia to J. Craig Williams and Rebecca Byrd.1,2 She likely married Otis S. Kell[e]y some time after the 23 January enumeration of the 1920 US Federal Census which listed Otis as single with his parents Giles and Ada on Crogan Street in Lawrenceville.3 At best, the marriage lasted less than two years. The couple being parted by the death of Mamie.

Resting near Mamie is her child Otis, Jr., born prematurely on 4 August 1921. Baby Otis lived but two hours, unnamed at the time of death.4,5 The death certificate was signed by G. S. Kelley, M.D. I believe this to be the father of Otis, Sr., listed as Giles S. Kelly in the 1920 US Federal Census with an occupation of medical doctor.6 It is unclear whether the child was a boy or a girl. The certificate was filled out listing the unnamed child as a female, but Dr. Kelley referred to the baby as "him." Regardless, Grandpa Kelley likely presided over the birth and death of his grandchild. And I'm sure he was present at the funeral and burial the following day.7

Two weeks later, to the day, Mamie would join her newborn child in Fairview Cemetery.8 Her obituary from The Constitution (Atlanta, GA):

MORTUARY
Mrs. Otis Kelley.
Lawrenceville, Ga., August 29 -- (Special.) -- Mrs. Otis Kelley, age 30, died at a local hospital in Atlanta early Sunday morning of appendicitis. The remains were brought to Lawrenceville and the funeral and interment held at Fair View church Monday. Mrs. Kelley was formerly Miss Mamie Williams, of Oakland. She is survived by her husband and father, J. Craig Williams, and two sisters, Ruth and Susie Williams, all of Oakland.

She was a member of the Presbyterian church and one of the most popular matrons of Lawrenceville.

Notes

1. "Georgia Deaths, 1914-1927," The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch.org - Free Family History and Genealogy Records. (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 9 June 2011), death certificate image, Mamie Craig Kelley, 28 August 1921, no. 20349, Georgia State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics.
2. "Mortuary: Mrs. Otis Kelley," The Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia), 30 August 1921, p. 12; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 June 2011), Historical Newspaper Collection.
3. 1920 U.S. census, Gwinnett County, Georgia, population schedule, p. 17A, Giles G. and Ada and Otis S. Kelly; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 June 2011); citing National Archives Bureau of the Census Record Group 29.
4. FindAGrave.com, Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery, digital images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 9 June 2011), photograph, gravestone for Otis Kelley, Jr. (1921-1921), Lawrenceville, Georgia.
5. "Georgia Deaths, 1914-1927," The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch.org - Free Family History and Genealogy Records. (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 9 June 2011), death certificate image, Unnamed Kelley, 4 August 1921, no. 17638, Georgia State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics.
6. 1920 U.S. census, Gwinnett Co., Georgia, pop. sch., p. 17A, Giles G. and Ada and Otis S. Kelley.
7. "Georgia Deaths, 1914-1927," FamilySearch.org - Free Family History and Genealogy Records, death certificate image, Unnamed Kelley, 1921, no. 17638.
8. "Mortuary: Mrs. Otis Kelley," The Constitution, 30 August 1921.

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