Kelly Maurice Purnell

KELLY’S JOURNEY... Kelly Maurice Purnell-Minns, beloved daughter of Bernadette A. Myers and Maurice S. Purnell, was born on June 23, 1982 in Nassawadox, VA. Kelly was granted her angel wings on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. After receiving her formal education in the public schools of Worcester County, graduating with the class of 2000, Kelly continued her education at Wor-Wic Community College. For the past five years, she resided in Salisbury, MD with her husband, Burke (BJ) Minns. Kelly attended Pentecostal Church of God of Lincoln in Newark, MD under the leadership of Pastor Willie G. Thomas. She loved her church family and they loved her. Her hobbies were also her passions and included a love for music, wrestling, watching the stars, sight-seeing, makeup, jewelry, purses and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite food was sushi, although she enjoyed sampling all types of foods. Kelly also enjoyed volunteering at the Adult Medical Daycare Center. She was a Special Olympics wheelchair athlete, performed with Maria Rose at the Opening Ceremony for the Maryland Special Olympics Summer Games and recorded the vocals along with twelve (12) other athletes from Maryland and Delaware for “You are the Flame.” No matter what she was going through, Kelly always had a big smile. She cared for others, loved her family and friends and even through all the pain, Kelly still found joy. Kelly leaves to cherish her fond memories: her best friend (Doodle) of over twenty years and husband of almost five years this year on August 20th, Burke (BJ) Minns of Princess Anne, MD; her mother, Bernadette Myers (Arthur) of West Palm Beach, FL and her father, Maurice Purnell (Maretta) of Dover, DE; children she reared as her own for many years, Tae’Nirra, Jonesha, Elijah and Trinidy; children, De’Antre Minns and Jazmyn Minns; grandson, Jah’Mier Minns; mother-in-law, Darlene Minns; brother-in-law, Hassan Minns and sister-in-law, Twanna Minns-Johnson, all of Princess Anne, MD; grandmothers, Thelma Holden of Pocomoke City, MD and Willie Mae Purnell of Stockton, MD; six sisters and one brother, SFC Tamiko Smith (SFC Algie B. Smith) of Accokeek, MD and their children, Emae’Ya of Nashville, TN, Ty’Rique of Richmond, VA, Joshua of Woodbridge, VA and Bry’An of Accokeek, MD; Tanesha Purnell and children, Tae’Nirra, Jonesha, Elijah and Trinidy, all of Salisbury, MD; April Purnell-Moreno (Jose Moreno) and their child, Bella, all of Hanover, MD; Katilya Mason and children, Deshawn Jr., Ke’Ziah, Jai’Breon and Zhy’Nasia, all of Dover, DE; Tierney Waters and children, Luna and Alia, all of Ocean Pines, MD; Essence Allsbrook (Corey Allsbrook) and children, Anana and Emaza, all of Westlake Village, CA and a brother, Me’Lik Purnell of Dover, DE and godson, Jermiah Timmons. Kelly’s special friends were Kerstein Richo (Cory), Geneva Hargis (Martice) and Denise Thomas and a host of additional nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Kelly was preceded in death by her grandfathers, James Edward Tunnell and Willie Pete Purnell and father-in-law, Burke Minns. A heartfelt thank you to Tameka Holden and Daphine Major for their many years of support and encouragement. Testimony from our Honoree Kelly Hello, my name is Kelly and I am thirty-eight (38) years old. Before I get started, I want to say, I thank God for my life, my health and strength; for without God, I am just a ship without a sail. “Thank God for Grace and Mercy.” I want to thank and praise God for my pastor, Willie G. Thomas of Pentecostal Church of God in Newark MD and my Bishop and Overseer, Bishop Marion L. Hendricks of Pentecostal Church of God Lincoln, Millsboro, Newark, Pocomoke. My journey on this earth from birth until now has not been easy. Born June 23, 1982 on a Wednesday night, my birth was hard on my parents because I was born breech (bottom first). Not only was I born breech but born with my back and spine open. Doctors gave my parents the option to keep or to abort me because the odds were grave. My parents were told I was born with the worst case of my disability Spinal Bifida. Doctors told my parents I would not live to be twelve (12) years old but that did not stop them from keeping me. As soon as I was born, I had my first surgery to close my back and spine. This was done at the best hospital back then known as Children of the Kings Daughter Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia. As I got a little older, I was told I would never walk, and I would be wheelchair bound for the rest of my life. Growing up my parents and family treated me no differently. It was only in public or in school that I felt so out of place, teased, judged, looked at differently. I felt like I was only known by association and always wanted to be accepted. As I went through school, life seemed so sad and hurtful because I felt alone and misunderstood. People would see me and talk down to me because all they perceived was this girl in a wheelchair who seemed helpless. I was never given a chance to show who I was. As problems at home came in my parent’s marriage, things got tougher for me. I found myself at times suicidal, found myself drinking, smoking and using drugs. I was also giving attention to guys because I thought it would make me be liked more. Fast forward to eighteen (18) years old. I had a second surgery (brain surgery to replace a shunt in my head just like the one I had done as a baby). I had many multiple surgeries in between those having to do with other things. At age twenty-five (25) I endured another brain surgery which had to do with the disability called spinal bifida. I do not like the word handicapped. I often use the word differently abled or physically challenged. Growing up people said I would never be anything. I would never graduate from high school, never have children or get married. To God be the Glory, I am married, with children from my husband’s previous relationship. I am about to be a grandmother. In July of 2019, I went for what was a same day surgery for something minor but ended up going into respiratory failure. I died on the table and they were able to revive me back to life. I was left using oxygen and the doctors said they would no longer do anymore surgeries if needed. While on my death bed, it was like God gave me a sign through my grandfather who had passed away in 2010. My grandfather told me to go back because God is not through with me. My testimony hopefully has and will encourage someone because this is just a portion of my life. Thank you for being open to listening to me share my ongoing life. Forever...Kelly

Kelly Maurice Purnell

June 23, 1982 - April 28, 2021