Lena May Kellum went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 12, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. Services were held 11:00 A.M. Monday, January 16, 2017 at Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. Terry Skinner and Rev. Roy Beaird officiating. Interment followed at Evergreen Cemetery in Houston County near Percilla. Pallbearers were Eric Barker, Lloyd Barker, Tim Beaird, Scott Campbell, Jerry Refioir and Floy Tate. Nathan Keel served as an honorary pallbearer.
May Kellum was born in Anderson County Texas, along with her twin brother, Ray Tate, on December 16, 1936. She was 80 years old at the time of her death. May was preceded in death by her parents, Lena Mae and Woodrow Wilson Tate. She was a stay at home mom in Houston until her youngest child was in the 4th grade. Then she went to work at FedMart in order to buy land that would eventually become a working farm near Slocum, Texas, for her husband, Lloyd, and herself in 1978. Her parents lived in a house on the farm, where the entire family gathered on Sundays for family dinners. May made a happy retirement home on the farm for her husband and her parents. Her children considered the farm home, though they were not raised there. This is because wherever Lloyd and May were was home. May cooked three amazing meals a day to feed anyone that was visiting. She was known for her apple cake (just ask Rhonda Barker).
May and Lloyd were married on May 19, 1955 and had two children, Bobby Wayne Kellum and Peggy Jean Kellum. When May loved, she loved completely. The love that May shared with her husband was obvious to everyone, even after 61 years of marriage. Their devotion to each other was a beautiful thing to witness; the same devotion they have had throughout their marriage. May later went to work at Rusk State Hospital and retired from the State. May and Lloyd sold the farm and moved to Fairfield, Texas, in 2002, where Lloyd’s childhood friend, John Barker and wife Joann Barker, grew up and now live. The Barker family and Kellum family always considered each other as family, so May and Lloyd have enjoyed being with their friends and church family at Calvary Baptist Church. May Kellum will always be thought of with love and for her kindness to everyone. May always had a smile for everyone, even when she was not feeling well. Her family will miss her every day of their lives; a love so strong never dies but will be greatly missed. We all know she is with her mother and father in Heaven, along with her Lord, and is healed and as beautiful as always. May Kellum has 2 grandchildren, Scott Campbell and wife Margie, 2 great grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Olivia Campbell and J.L. Campbell who passed away in 2013, who is survived by his wife, Sandy Campbell.
Lena May Kellum is survived by her husband of 61 years, Lloyd Wayne Kellum; son and wife, Bobby Wayne and Linda Dianne Kellum; daughter, Peggy Jean Kellum; a twin brother and wife, Woodrow Ray Tate and Doris Fay Tate.
May has many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. They all held a special place in her heart. Her love was boundless.
May’s children would like to thank neighbor Misty Baillio and little boy Mason for becoming a part of the family. Misty, how can we express our love and gratitude for always looking out for Mom and Dad? You are a special Christian woman and we love you. Uncle John and Joann, how can we describe the love you show every day to Mom and Dad? Uncle John, you have been a part of our family since we were born and Joann, you fit right in and we love you both very much.
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