Mary Louise  (nee: Pannell) Harden  was born on March 10, 1951, to the union of Joe Louis Kelly and Mary Emma Pannell in New Albany, Mississippi.

Mary accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior when she was 55 years old and became a member of Higher Ground Ministries in Racine, WI.  She became a member of Refuge Church on September 19, 2009. She could always be found giving life advice to members of the congregation.

Mary along with her family moved to Racine, Wisconsin at the age of 13. Mary enjoyed watching television, going to the movies and more than anything she loved spending time with family and friends. One could not mistake her very vibrant personality. However, she was a very loving, yet generous person. As she aged, she showed a greater level of patience in all things. She expressed her love for GOD and the things of GOD. She also loved her children and her family and she never wanted them to worry about her. Mary found a way to smile even when she didn't feel well. She also found a way to make people laugh and she loved to have fun. Never did she complain about sickness, money or anything else. You would have to know the signs to know when something was wrong with her. She would always say that she was getting over a cold in order to not show sickness. She'd always say "I feel good!"  The night before she passed, she was chuckling in laughter even then. She was known to rise early and be diligent with her telephone calls to family and friends on a very regular basis. Her favorite Gospel song was "Moving Forward" by Israel Houghton. Mary will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Mary Louise Harden departed this life on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at her home in Racine, Wisconsin, at the age of 66. She was preceded in death by her father, Joe Louis Kelly; her mother, Mary Emma Pannell; her sisters, Peggy Ann Kelly and Emma Whitfield, as well as her brother, David Kelly. She leaves to cherish her memories her beautiful daughter, Mandy Marie (Bryant) Holloway of Sturtevant, WI and her loving son, William Harden, Jr. of Racine, WI; her grandchildren, Jessica Marie Jefferies of Racine, WI, Paris Harden of Tyrone, PA, Bryant E. Holloway, Jr. of Sturtevant, WI, India Brianna Holloway of Sturtevant, WI, Brianna Savaglia of Orlando, FL, Brandon Harden of Willston, ND, and Zoey Jade Brousseau of Sheboygan, WI; her siblings, Georgia Davis of Chicago, IL, Willie Hay (Patricia)  Pannell of Racine, WI, Sammy (Jolie) Kelly of Antioch, CA, Dianne Kelly of Racine, WI, Joe Larry (Linda) Kelly of El Paso, TX and Pastor Quinton (Latanya) Brown of Peoria, IL.  Mary's also survived by a host of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and friends too numerous to mention.

A Celebration of her life will be held on Friday, April 14, 2017 at 11:00am in Refuge Church, 1529 N. Wisconsin Street. The Visitation will be at the church, on Friday from 10:00am until the time of service.

Service Details

Funeral: Friday, April 14, 2017,  11:00am

Visitation: Friday, April 14, 2017 10:00am – 11:00am

Location: Refuge Church, 1529 N. Wisconsin Street, Racine, Wisconsin

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