Henrietta Fulton Kelley of Malden and West Medford, MA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 10,at Glenridge Nursing Home in Medford. She was 91 years old. Mrs. Kelley born in Petersburg, VA in 1928 moved to West Medford in 1946.
She lived there for seven years sharing a home with her older sister and husband , Alyce and Herbert Frisby of 93 Arlington St. After marriage to the late Herman Fulton, Jr. she moved to 12 Steve’s Court in Malden, and started a family. In Malden she became a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church on Hillside Ave. Herman Fulton Jr. went to work for Ferry Street Motors as a mechanic and in his spare time he was a “dream car builder” he designed the classic “Tail Fin” on the Oldsmobile/Cadillac. Henrietta Fulton or Rhett as she was called by many now a young mother of three girls joined a woman’s social club in West Medford along with her sister Alice known to many in the community as BB. The name of the club was The Haymakers. Herman and Henrietta divorced after 14 years and she and her children became residents of West Medford once again. She went to work for the beloved Sally’s Doughnut Shoppe in West Medford Square and spent many happy years on 53 Sharon Street. Henrietta married Detective Earl R. Kelley of Malden. Earl was a beloved Malden Policeman until his death in 2004. Henrietta also spent 20 years also working as a home health care aide for the sick and shut-ins and it was called inner city homemakers and now it is called Mystic Valley Elder Services. Henrietta and Earl spent many happy years together at the house on Alden Street in Malden with children and grandchildren.
Henrietta is the last of five children born to Nannie and Freeland Watkins of Petersburg, VA. She was preceded in death by her parents,her Brother Charles Watkins, Sisters, Alyce Frisby, Margie Stewart and Doris Cave. As well as her youngest daughter, Theresa Fulton Sanders and grandson Franklyn Sanders. She leaves to mourn her passing and celebrate her life, daughter Gale Fulton Ross, son,Colonel Charles ‘Chaz’ Hawkins, US Air Force retired, Major Shauntell Guillory- Hawkins, US Air force retired, son, Gregory W. Kelley, and his wife Jean ,daughter, Yvonne Fulton Parson, grandchildren, Craig Ross, Jr., his wife Caryn, Elon Parson, wife Eliseth, Alicia Weser, Isaiah Parson, Captain Brielle Hawkins, US Air Force, Chloe Hawkins, Chari Hawkins, Colin Hawkins and Chyler Hawkins,
And great grandchildren, Deandre Ball, Caris Ross, and Camryn Ross.
Henrietta Fulton Kelley also leaves behind a host of family/friends including niece and nephews to whom she is known as Aunt Rhett.
Funeral services were held in The Emmanuel Baptist Church Malden with Reverend Wayne Gadie officiating. Internment followed in Puritan Lawn Cemetery Peabody. Arrangements by The Murphy O’Hara Funeral Home 519 Broadway Everett.