Helen Louise (Jarrett) Kennedy

Helen Jarrett Kennedy died November 4, 2024. She was 92. Helen was born in Nashville, June 23, 1932. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Jennings Jarrett and Margaret Louise Drake Jarrett; husband of 44 years, Edward Creasman Kennedy; brother, William Jarrett. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Mildred Jarrett, nieces, Teresa Jarrett and Elaine Ozburn (Perry); great nephews, Kit Ozburn (Natalie) and Ben Ozburn (Chelsey).

Helen graduated from West High School. Her first job was at the Baptist Sunday School Board (Lifeway). When Belmont College was founded, she worked there in the library and soon enrolled in Belmont as a student. Helen was a cheerleader and co-editor of the yearbook her senior year. Hers was Belmont's first graduating class.

Upon graduation in 1955, she worked as secretary of the Training Union Department of the Tennessee Baptist Convention that had relocated to the Belmont campus. In 1963 she was promoted to Director of Children's Work and served in that role until 1984. For 21 years she traveled from Bristol to Memphis and Union City to Chattanooga encouraging and equipping children growing into the likeness of Christ.

Helen grew up in Judson Baptist Church. As a 33-year-old young professional, she had many suitors and not a few matchmakers working on her behalf. Also in the church was its most eligible bachelor, Ed Kennedy. He, too, had many matchmakers. Helen and Ed found each other. They married in 1965. Helen played a vital role in Ed's leadership in organizations related to industry of which he was a part.

At the same time Helen and Ed served separate terms as trustees and benefactors of Belmont University. Following Ed's death in 2009, Helen funded the Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics and the Edward C. and Helen J. Kennedy Chair for Excellence within the Jack C. Massey College of Business.

Kennedy Hall, completed in 2003, was named after longtime Belmont trustees and benefactors Helen and Ed Kennedy. This suite-style residence hall is for female students. Helen was extremely committed to the historical preservation of the Belmont Campus including Belmont Mansion, Bell Tower, and Foutch Alumni House.

Helen was a bridgebuilder between Ward-Belmont and Belmont University alumnae. She was a leader in bringing people from the two schools together in service of their common interests. In 2015, alumnae of Ward-Belmont gathered for a reunion as part of Belmont University's 125th anniversary.

Born during the Great Depression, Helen Jarrett Kennedy was blessed. She became a blessing to her contemporaries and to the generations to come.