Janet Yarborough Kelly

Biltmore Forest, NC. Janet Yarborough Kelly, age 83, died September 20, 2023 after an extended illness while a resident of The Landings of Mills River assisted living facility.

Janet was born in Sanford, NC on December 29,1939 to Wilma Crystal Hartness and Phillip Chaffin Yarborough, Sr. Janet was the youngest of six children. Her mother, Wilma, passed away in 1947 when Janet was eight years old. Her father, Phil, also became very ill. While he was at Duke Hospital weeks prior to his death, he married Edna Earl Beddingfield as they planned for her to raise the children. In 1949 when Janet's father died, Edna Earl became a caring stepmother to Janet and her siblings until her death in 2006.

Janet graduated from Sanford High School in 1957 and from Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC with a B.A. degree in history and education in 1961.

Janet and Glenn met in high school in 1955. Their first date was to the junior and senior prom. They were married August 19,1961 after Glenn's first year at UNC Law School and have spent 62 wonderful years together. During Glenn's last two years in law school, Janet supported the family, one year as a high school teacher and the second year as a social worker.

Once she had children, Janet decided to stay home to focus being a very dedicated and loving wife and mother, which was her most cherished job. When her children grew older and more independent, she decided to further pursue a career in her passion to help children. Janet commuted to Columbia, SC from Asheville on Saturdays while working full time as a social worker to earn a master's degree in social work from the University of South Carolina. She worked selflessly to help children and their families for 25 years as a social worker and counselor for Buncombe County Schools.

Janet and Glenn have been active members of Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Asheville for 58 years, and they both have served on the church vestry and have been senior wardens. Janet has always loved her church and her friends there and immersed herself in ways to volunteer. Whether teaching Sunday school or serving as chairman of the altar guild, she was always delighted to be helping and interacting and with her church family.

Janet was also an active community volunteer and worked with numerous charitable organizations. She was very involved with Room at the Inn and would regularly volunteer and stay overnight at the shelter to support homeless women. Janet served as chairman of Caring for Children and as president of the Asheville Junior League. She was also active in the Asheville Art Museum, the Potpourri Garden Club, and the Bar Belles, an auxiliary group to the Buncombe County Bar Association.

Janet and Glenn have been members of the Biltmore Forest Country Club for 51 years where Janet enjoyed many seasons of tennis and golf with family and many good friends. In addition, she was an avid bridge player and was a long-time member of several bridge clubs with some of her dearest lifelong friends.

Janet loved her family and entertaining and created the most memorable celebrations. Thanksgiving, Christmas and beach trips were always very special times Janet organized with her family. She loved being a grandmother and adored her grandchildren and always appreciated any opportunity to be with them ? playing, reading, singing, cooking, attending their sporting events or even just babysitting. She was the kindest and most caring of souls and she and her sweet smile will be greatly missed and forever cherished by her family, friends, and so many others she has impacted.

Janet is survived by her beloved husband, Edward Glenn Kelly; children, Mary Kelly Sheridan and her husband, Eric, and Edward Glenn Kelly, Jr; grandchildren, Edward Carter Sheridan, Megan Ryan Kelly, Thomas Hunter Sheridan, and Tyler Brooks Kelly; and her brother Carol Yarborough, along with many nieces and nephews. Janet was preceded in death by her brothers, Rufus and Phil Yarborough; and her sisters, Mary Bridgers and Billie Berryhill.

Consistent with Janet's wishes, her family will be having a private celebration of her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Janet to Trinity Episcopal Church, 80 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.