Edrey Mae Kennedy

Edrey Mae Kennedy passed away November 28 at age 90. Born in 1927 near Watson's Crossroads in Northeast Cherokee County Alabama to the late Goldie Mae McCullough Hurley and Daniel Hurley, she was preceded in death by her sisters Ruth and Shirley. Funeral services will be held 3 P.M. Thursday November 30th at Perry Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jeff Davis officiating. A private burial will follow in Cherokee Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Centre 1st United Methodist Church. Pallbearers include Ken Woodall, Terry Dawson, David James, Keith James, Billy Rex Miller, Wayne Maddox, Wallace Lyons, and Kimball Parker. Edrey Mae graduated from Gaylesville High School in 1946 and was one of 6 in her graduating class. Edrey Mae married the late William J. Kennedy in 1947 after graduating from Montgomery Business School. She is survived by her two daughters, Patricia Kennedy-Stefanac (Ray) of Phoenix, AZ and Susan Kennedy Jennings of Centre, two grandsons, John W. Stefanac, Phoenix, AZ, and William Elias Kennedy Jennings, of Centre, three nephews, Kerry Akins (Sheila) Dogtown, Jon Richardson (Josephina) Atlanta, Randall Richardson (Rebecca) Pelham, and one niece, Dava Richardson, Pelham. As a career woman, Edrey Mae worked for the Cherokee County Extension Service beginning in 1948 and moved over to Assistant to the Superintendent of Education from 1958 to 1989, under 5 different Superintendents. During that time, she also acted as Treasurer for the Alabama State Crippled Children's Fund dispersing funds to children in need of medical care, until she retired. After Edrey Mae's husband's unexpected death in 1989, she took over the management of Kennedy Rentals and Kennedy Apartments and managed them along with her devoted maintenance men for 27 years. As a Christian, Edrey Mae has been a faithful member of the Centre First United Methodist Church and the Bonner Fellowship Sunday School class since 1947 when she and her husband moved to Centre. As a community member, Edrey Mae was a long-term member of the Centre Business and Professional Women's Club (BPW) and Order of the Eastern Star. As a wife, mother and grandmother, Edrey Mae will be remembered for her love and devotion to her family, especially her care for her grandson Elias Jennings. As a wife and mother, she established a smoothly running home life which allowed her husband to develop a thriving business and her daughters to have a secure and wonderful childhood. Her family will always have fond memories of her exceptional homemaking, culinary and seamstress skills, and love and service to family.

Edrey Mae Kennedy

July 2, 1927 - November 28, 2017