James Edward Kelly was born on November 7, 1952 in Camden, South Carolina to

the late Sallie Mae Kelly-Murphy and Jesse Watkins, both from Camden, South

Carolina. He departed this life suddenly on Sunday, February 27, 2022 in Baltimore,

Maryland after a lengthy illness.

"Sonny" as he was affectionately known by all family members, friends, and colleagues,

were diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus I many years ago. The doctors and nurses were

always impressed with his positive attitude towards his condition. Throughout his years

as a diabetic, he always put up a good fight and kept a hopeful spirit even when he first

started receiving Dialysis.

Sonny attended Christian Temple Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland with his wife,

Stephanie Ann Kelly, who preceded him in death.

Sonny graduated from Douglas High School in Baltimore, Maryland in June of 1972. He

was active in every facet of his high school newspaper and enjoyed participating in all

types of activities related to this. During his pre-teen and teenage years, he was a local

newspaper deliverer who loved his make-shift wooden "hut" located at the corner of

North Avenue and Futaw Street. He would use this hut during the winter and rainy

seasons.

Sonny graduated from Community College of Baltimore (CB) in Baltimore, Maryland

in 1978, where he received his Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice Studies. In 1979,

he began working for the City of Baltimore as a Security Guard for the Baltimore City

Public School System for over 25 years until his retirement in 2009. Typical of Sonny, he

became bored during retirement and after a year, returned to the workforce as a Security

Guard for Maryland Legal Aid in downtown Baltimore, only to officially retire in

November 2015.

Sonny was an avid reader and loved to watch his favorite NFL Team, the Dallas

Cowboys. He shared his favorite past times with his wife, Stephanie "Ann" Kelly who

preceded him in death, and loved traveling to his hometown of Camden, South Carolina

to visit family and to enjoy time spent there. His other passions included music (his love

for oldies but goodies and R&B), movies, shopping, and talking politics!

Sonny was preceded in death by: his loving and devoted wife, Stephanie Ann Kelly;

daughter, Nicole Thomas; parents, Sallie Mae Kelly-Murphy and Jesse Watkins; two

brothers, Robert and Jerome Murphy; his favorite Aunt Fannie, who raised him and his

brothers; mother and father in-law, Essie and Gilbert Collins, and brother-in-law, Henry

Smith. Sonny leaves to cherish his memory: a loving and devoted niece and

cousin/ sister, Kenya Kelly and Linda Kelly; first generation cousins Minnie Alexander,

Synthia Sparrow, Darryl Gaither, Larry Gaither and Sylvanuel Kelly; son-in-law, Shelton

Thomas; one brother-in-law, Eric Collins, three sisters-in-law, Delores, Susan and Tracy

Collins; good friend Ronald, and a host of other cousins, relatives, friends and colleagues.