JOEL KENNEDY

Joel Kennedy, age 81, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, October 23, 2023.

Born in Oak Grove, LA, on November 5, 1941, he was a son of the late Thomas and Ellen (Milking) Kennedy, Sr. Joel’s formal education was very limited, primarily due to the family obligation to farming. Farming land was a mandated family survival trade and created his strong work ethic. In his early twenties, however, Mr. Kennedy was led to travel wherever opportunity presented itself, which lead him to employment in heavy-duty construction. He worked and traveled throughout the country, and for the most part, successfully maintained various construction types of employment, including the title of supervisor.

Joel loved making people laugh and seemingly never met a stranger. All the ladies were typically addressed as “sweetheart,” “baby,” “love,” and so on. Joel had a way of making people take note of him. He needed you to see him and after acknowledging his presence, he was fully satisfied. Joel believed in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, and was a dedicated member of Pilgrim Baptist Church. In his spare time, he enjoyed deer hunting. Joel never forgot his homeland, Louisiana and the family he so loved. Delaware, however, won his heart as he returned and settled comfortably for many years with his wife, Jean.

As the song goes: “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.”

In addition to his parents, Joel was preceded in death by his daughter, Marcella Pope; and siblings, Thomas Kennedy, Jr., Wilbert Kennedy, Freddie Kennedy, and Travestine Holmes. He is survived by his loving wife, Jean L. (Hollis) Kennedy; children, Denise Newsome (Bennie), Delores Smith, Robert Kennedy (Sharon), Fabian Greene and Johnnie Greene; siblings, Eddie Kennedy, Charles Kennedy, and Carrie Mae Thomas; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

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