Obituary for Clarabel McDuffie

YOUNGSTOWN – Services will be Friday at noon at the Third Baptist Church, 1177 Park Hill Drive in Youngstown, with Dr. Morris W. Lee as officiant, for Mrs. Clarabel Kelly-McDuffie, 90, who departed this life Saturday, July 12, 2014, at her residence.

Mrs. Kelly-McDuffie was born Nov. 30, 1923, in Greenfield, Va., a daughter of William H. and Virginia Jackson Kelly.

She was a registered nurse, working at St. Elizabeth Health Center. She was the first black industrial nurse for U.S. Steel and retired from Packard Electric as an industrial nurse May 1, 1998.

She attended the Youngstown City School System, was a graduate of South High School and attended Choffin School of Nursing and the Youngstown State University School of Nursing.

She was a founding member and past president of the Jr. Civic League; a lifetime and former board member of the Youngstown Urban League; a founding member of the interest group Ivy Leaf Club of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Youngstown Chapter, a lifetime member of the NAACP; the creator of the National Household Technicians Program; a member of the Human Relation Commission of Youngstown; a member of the church, where she served as a member of the Altar Guild; was a Summer Camp Nurse; a member of the Literary Guild and was the Director of the Joyce Johnson Computer Center.

She leaves a daughter, Judith L. McDuffie-Ponds of Washington, D.C.; a granddaughter, Jennifer L. Ransome of New Orleans; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, William and Charles Kelly; and three sisters, Emma Jackson, Virginia Lawrence and Mary Jackson.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday at the church. The family will be receiving condolences at 2848 McGuffey Road in Youngstown.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Negro College Fund, 1805 Seventh St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.

Interment will be at Green Haven Memorial Gardens, 3495 S. Canfield-Niles Road, Canfield.

Arrangements are being handled by the F.D. Mason Memorial Funeral Home.