Marsha Pepper Kennedy

Marsha Pepper Kennedy, 78 of Athens, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 23, 2022 at Limestone Health Facility in the company of her family. Marsha was born on October 11, 1944 to Josephus Pepper and Lena Virginia Sloan.

She is survived by her daughter Jacqueline Kennedy; son Keith and wife Melissa Kennedy; Grandchildren Sara and husband Will Ogles, Channing and husband Kellan Bethke, Nicholas and wife Irene Kennedy, Jasper Kennedy, Kennedy and husband Nathan Eason, Mary Burgreen and fiancé Zach Walker, Lily and husband Joel Yoder; Great-Grandchildren Abigail and Anderson Ogles, Kegan and Leona Bethke, Kora, and Kayson Kennedy and Judah Eason.

Marsha spent her professional career as the partner and business administrator of the family’s house moving company. In the days before computers, she would drive to each town and obtain the permits for each move and everyone knew her by name. In the early years, she would even be part of the escort team during the house move itself. Marsha was most proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and often introduced herself as Mema, insisting you also call her such. She was indeed a Mema to many outside of her family. She never refused a visitor, always offering them some sweet tea and a snack. In her retirement, you would either find her sitting at the kitchen table immersed in a book or tending to her flowers in the backyard. She had a deep appreciation for antiques and had creative talents unknown to most, including embroidery, sewing and painting. She lived her life eating off of the good china, sneaking a few bites of dessert before dinner and making sure all of her people were loved and taken care of.

Christmas was her favorite time of the year so it was only fitting that she spend the holiday with the family that preceded her in death: her parents, her husband of 58 years, Hollis Walden Kennedy, one daughter, Deanna Faye Burgreen, one infant son, Shawn Kennedy.

Visitation for our beloved Momma and Mema will be on Thursday, December 29 at 1:00pm and a Service at 2:00pm at McConnell Funeral Home in Athens with Kasey Harbin officiating. Pallbearers will be Nicholas Kennedy, Will Ogles, Nathan Eason, Terry Kennedy and Mike McWhirter. Burial will follow the funeral service at Roselawn Cemetery where she will be laid to her final resting place beside her “Shug.”