LaWanna (Brown) Kelly

Mrs. LaWanna Kelly, age 46, of Vidalia, died Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at her home after an extended illness. She was born in Dublin on March 31, 1979, and was raised in Newnan. She was a 1997 graduate of Newnan High School and earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education from Georgia Southern University in 2002, Master’s of Science degree in Education from Walden University in 2007, and an Education Specialist degree from Georgia Southern University in 2012. She taught school for twenty-six years, beginning at Butts County, then later in Dublin, and spent the past ten years teaching at Sally D. Meadows Elementary School. She was a member of Connection Church and served with Connection kids. She enjoyed reading, going to Disney World, traveling, and spending lots of time at her favorite place, Key West, Florida.

She is preceded in death by her father, Frank Brown; and mother, Marjorie Louise Dukes Butts.

LaWanna is survived by her husband, Ross Kelly; five children, Amelia Kelly, of Vidalia, Luke Hartley and wife Cammie of Hazlehurst, Carson Hartley, Lason Kelly, and Serynn Kelly, all of Vidalia; stepmother, Genelle McDonald Brown; stepfather, Billy Butts of Chester; one brother, Andy Roland and wife Mindy of Eastman; one stepbrother, Bobby Ray McDonald and wife Molly of Bogart; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday morning, March 14, 2026, at 11:00 at Connection Church in Vidalia with Randy McDuffie officiating. Interment will follow at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, 1100 Roddy Hwy., Eastman, GA.

The family will receive friends at Connection Church on Saturday morning from 9:00 until just prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tommy and Shirley Strickland Cancer Center, 1 Meadows Pkwy, Vidalia, GA 30475.

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.

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