Margaret "Sissie" Whitted Kelly

Sissie was born on May 13, 1935 to Colonel Thomas Byrd Whitted and D’Este White Whitted in Watertown, NY. Her father was a West Point graduate and career military officer, so Sissie spent her childhood moving frequently throughout the United States and also living in Berlin, Germany and The Hague, Netherlands, although Charlotte, NC was considered the family home for generations. Sissie attended Duke University and graduated in 1957 with a degree in French. At Duke, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She also studied at the Sorbonne (University of Paris) with her sister during 1954-5. Sissie worked as a public school teacher on military bases and at public schools, including the former Central High in Charlotte.

In 1964, Sissie met Walter Richard (“Dick”) Kelly, Jr. at a Myers Park Methodist singles group and after a brief courtship, the two were married on July 17th at First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. After 56 happy years of marriage, Dick predeceased Sissie in 2021. Their wedding picture is in the bride’s room at the church. Dick and Sissie were members of First Presbyterian Church their entire married lives. They have two children: Walter Richard Kelly, III (“Rich”) and Kevin Whitted Kelly.

Sissie was always very involved and passionate about First Presbyterian Church in downtown due to her family’s long tenure at the church and their Christian mission. She served as a moderator, treasurer and Bible study leader for the Presbyterian Women and received the Honorary Life Membership award.

She was an outstanding cook, preparing homemade meals virtually every evening and creating lifelong favorites among family members. Many of the recipes for holiday meals and other favorites have been handed down, including sweet potato casserole, stuffed peppers, country captain, curry and numerous desserts. She also cooked frequently for her grandchildren when they visited. Sissie was very steadfast in sticking to a healthy diet and exercise regimen and was also very physically tough, never complaining when any health issues arose over the years.

Sissie enjoyed knitting tremendously, knitting many items for family members, including personalized Christmas stockings still in use. She also spent time as a knitting teacher at the Knit Wits store at the Myers Park Shopping Center.

Sissie also had a close group of friends in her bridge club over the years, hosting and attending parties and creating lifetime bonds.

She enjoyed crossword puzzles, board games, mystery novels and game shows, answering the clues before other family members could even read them. She was very open to a large number of pets and taking in strays, having up to six cats at several points and a variety of rabbits, birds and fish over the years.

Sissie and Dick honeymooned at Sea Island, Georgia and continued with annual beach trips with their family, which continues to this day with an almost 40-year run of visits to Hatteras Village at the Outer Banks. These annual pilgrimages created a strong tradition within the family and love for all things seafood.

Sissie was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She and Dick spent many hours reading books and Bible stories, playing sports and attending basketball games and swim and track meets with Kevin and Rich. Sissie (“Nana”) and Dick spent many days watching their grandchildren, reading, going to parks and museums around Charlotte and attending all birthday and sporting events without fail.

Sissie was predeceased by her parents, Colonel Thomas Byrd Whitted and D’Este White Whitted and her sister, D’Este Hanson. She is survived by her sons, Rich Kelly (Beth) and Kevin Kelly; and three grandchildren, Ryan, Brenna, and Shane Kelly.

The family requests that all flowers and notes are sent to McEwen Funeral Service – Pineville Chapel @ 10500 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210.

There will be a memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church chapel at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 3rd and a visitation to follow. Graveside burial is private.