Emelda Peters Johnson Kennerly 

Published 4:05 pm Thursday, October 3, 2024

Emelda Peters Johnson Kennerly, affectionately known as “Lady K,” embarked on a remarkable journey of public service starting in the early 1970s. She began as a Special Education Teacher in Richmond, Virginia’s Public School System, where she dedicated three years to teaching. Her career in government service kicked off in Bogalusa, La., where she served as the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Director. Emelda’s leadership skills soon led her to significant roles, such as Chief of Housing Rehabilitation at the District of Columbia Department of Housing, Deputy Director at Prince George’s County, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. She also held the position of Vice President for Resident Services at the NHP Foundation and served as State Secretary for Maryland’s Department of Human Resources, overseeing 24 local social services departments and 8,000 employees and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Her expertise further extended to the City of West Palm Beach as Director of Housing and Community Development and Vice President for Governmental Affairs at HomeFree-USA, a non-profit housing counseling agency. Emelda played a pivotal role in the creation of HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling, where she eventually retired as an Executive Director of the Division of Outreach and Capacity Building.

A proud alumna of the Northfield School for Girls in Massachusetts, Emelda earned her Bachelor of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Juris Doctor from the Antioch School of Law. She was an active member of the Chi Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in Palm Coast, Florida, and served with the national Sorority of Eta Phi Beta, Inc., Nu Chapter. Alongside her missionary work and serving as First Lady, she authored “The Magnolia Seed” and received numerous accolades, including the SHERO award from the Jacksonville Women’s Center for founding the Share and Seed Academy for the Performing Arts, Inc. Her academy brought joy to children and youth through productions like “The Wiz” and “The Lion King.”

Emelda departed this life on Sept. 17, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of love and service. She was predeceased by her parents, Everette M. Peters Sr. and Charity Brown Peters; three sisters, Juanita Peters, Vivian L. Percy, and Mary P. Pinkston, and one brother, Everette Peters Jr. She is survived by her husband, The Rev. Dr. Melvin A. Kennerly; her godson, David C. Coffee Sr. (Tarsha); five nieces, Dianna Pettus (Killeen, Texas), Stacy Pinkston-Harvey (Homa, La.), Erica Williams (Waldorf, Md.), Kyndall Hogan and Danielle Gaskins ( Chicago, Ill.); five nephews, Gil Ray Pinkston (Atlanta, Ga.), James Kennerly (Kimberly), Joshua Kennerly, Michael Gaskins, and Mitchell Gaskins; mother-in-law, Dorothy C. Kennerly; sister-in-law, Dorothea Gaskins (Michael); brother-in-law, Harvey Kennerly (Rosa); close cousins, Bessie Davis (Monroe, La.), Bertha Baker (Tampa, Fla.), and Yvonne Vaas (Atlanta, Ga.); armor bearer, Betty W. Wright (Cocoa, Fla.); play big sister, Katie Robinson (Tuskegee, Ala.); sisters-in-faith, Mischell Glenn, Carol Coffie (Edwin), Palm Coast, Fla., Rita Weary (Larry), Shelia Pennick, Pamela Prier (LeMorris), Lelia Allen (Jessie) Orlando, Fla., Roxanna Pernell (James), Paula Blount, JoAnna Beasley, Jo Fisher-Hall (Maryland), Willetta L. Richie and Elizabeth Yates; brother-in-love, Tyrone Merchant (Margaret); brothers-in-faith, Terrance Muhammad (Atlanta), Martin Tooley (Daytona Beach), Bernard Frazier, Travis Kendrick (Sheryl), Edgewater, Fla., James A. Rumph (Sandra), Los Angeles, Calif., and Wendell Webster; heart sister, Marva Jones (Palm Coast, Fla.); riding partner, Cerrito King; favorite nurses, Stephanie Clay, Adrienne Atmore, and Elisha Moultrie, her hair consultant and stylist. She was loved by so many other relatives and friends that there was not room to write all of their names.