Karen Nanette Kelly was born May 16, 1953 in Jackson MS, the first of four children of John Buie Kelly, Jr and Nannie Lou Joyner Kelly. She had a very happy childhood, developing a strong sense of family early on. There were many Aunts & Uncles living nearby, and two sets of Grandparents that she was very close to. Karen would often spend whole summers in Shreveport LA with her Papaw & Mamaw Kelly. She also developed a love of music early from her great-Aunt Nancy, and has turned that into a lifelong passion.
After graduating from Clinton High School in Clinton MS in 1971, Karen attended Belhaven College in Jackson MS, where she was very active in Intermural Sports and her Music Sorority. She was graduated in 1975 with a B.A. Degree in Music. She immediately went to work at XX Church in Jackson as the Pianist, eventually becoming both Music Director and Choir Director. She then moved to Covenant Christian Church in Jackson in 19xx, where she also held both positions until 1994.
Karen was first married in 1973, and gave birth to a daughter, Erin Ashley Smith, on January 3, 1983 in Jackson. This marriage ended in 1986, when Karen & Erin moved back to Clinton to be closer to the family that they both cherished. They remained in Clinton until moving to WV in May 1994.
She left Covenant in May 1994 when she was married to David, and her & Erin moved to Huntington WV. When she moved, Karen stated that she was going to take some time off from a Church job, but this lasted until October 1994 when she accepted the Pianist position at Beverly Hills Baptist Church in Huntington. This soon grew into the dual role that she is so familiar with - Music Director and Choir Director - where she remains today.
The toughest thing about Karen moving to WV has been all the miles it has put between her & Erin and the rest of their family. Karen has three brothers who are all married, with seven nieces and nephews between them. Karen and Erin both love WV, and love living in WV, but only wishes it was not so far away from the rest of the Kelly clan. This WV family usually tries to make at least two trips made to MS every year; during the summer, and at Christmas.
Karen's interests include Music, Reading, Travel, Family, Yorkies, and Cooking.