In Loving Memory of Mandy Kelly

Yesterday, Mandy Kelly (writer at Worshipful Living), along with her husband, daughter (pictured above) and baby boy, died in a terrible house fire.  Mandy was our Good Morning Girls Leadership Coordinator and my friend since 2011.

I am heartbroken. Mandy loved God and others with every ounce of energy she had.  She shined brightly for Jesus with boldness and courage!  She helped me here with Good Morning Girls and was always there for me with anything I needed, day or night.  Her enthusiasm to serve inspired me to keep going on days when I was weary.  She listened and loved me and was not just a helper – but a true, loyal friend.

She is with Jesus now. I can’t wait to see that girls smile in heaven again. We have a great hope from our great God and that is what she always lived for.

Please keep her two children (Bekah and Jared) who have lost their parents and 2 siblings – in prayer.???????????? 

The family’s church has a fund set up, and cards may be sent to the family, care of the church.

The church’s address is:
Trinity Baptist Church
2003 Charleston Hwy.
Cayce, SC 29033

You can also donate via Trinity’s website. There is a GIVE button on the menu. Choose the ‘Kelly Fund’ from the drop down options.
http://www.tbccayce.com

Mandy is forever in our hearts and her fingerprints are left all over this ministry.  I am so thankful for the legacy of a life – well lived – that she has left for us.  My heart is grieved but not without hope. I know one day we will be reunited in heaven – until then – Mandy is greatly missed.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
~1 Thessalonians 4:13,14

Keep Walking with the King,

Courtney 

65 Comments

  1. Courtney,
    What a heartbreak for friends and family of Mandy and her family! Praise God and Jesus she and her husband were children of the King! May God comfort you all as only He can.
    Katie

    1. Courtney I am so sorry for the loss of your friend in your life. My prayers are with you, her family, her church members. She will be greatly missed! Karen

  2. Reading this terribly sad news here in the UK last night.Such a wonderful inspiration both on here and her own blog.Praying for her family and friends that they may find comfort in this heartbreaking season.And praying for you too Courtney,losing a friend and tragically her family members in this way must be just devastating.God bless you all x

  3. Thank you for sharing Courtney. I know you are personally devastated as Mandy was a real-life friend of yours. I am STILL in shock that this happened. Prayers for the Kelly family as they mourn this tremendous loss :'(

  4. Mandy will continue to touch lives even in death. She lived boldly for Jesus. And her smile was contagious. She helped me get through one of the hardest times in my life Feb. 2016. Losing my Daddy. She was an encouraging force. And she would stop whatever she was doing or talking about to pray on the spot. My heart is broken for losing her and for those children who have now lost twice.
    Mandy, we will continue to fight the good fight! We will continue to Run our Race. Until we see you again.
    Rest In Paradise sweet sweet precious friend.
    Tisha ????

  5. I am praying for you Courtney, their children and all who are grieving this loss. I’m so grateful for that hope.

  6. Courtney, I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. I have been hearing of so, so much loss recently in our world and have been clinging tightly to our Hope. What would we do without Him!

  7. Courtney, I am so sorry for your loss! May you feel the comfort and love of Christ during this difficult time! He is our hope!

    in love,
    Tricia C

  8. This was such a sad thing to read. I remember reading the bios of your Good Morning Girls helpers and thinking what a wonderful woman Mandy seemed to be. She took on a role of mom to children that had lossed their own mom. I’m sure that wasn’t always easy. I will be praying for you and their family. Especially the 2 children who survived.

  9. We all are feeling a great loss today but Courtney your words are comforting knowing she is in eternity with our Lord and Savior.

  10. Oh Mandy and that smile!

    May God be the great comfort for the two siblings left behind.

    I can only now go back to her posts and be thankful she has been a part of my journey online.

    Praying for the family left behind.

  11. This is a great tragedy in the human realm but she and her family are now in the presence of the Lord she served and loved so well! Prayers for the ones left behind to mourn.

  12. This is a shocking piece of news! I just started reading her blog a few days ago.

    May her family find comfort in the Lord!

  13. This is one of those situations that is hard for our human minds to grasp, but thankfully we serve a big and mighty God whose ways are better and higher than all our ways, and we can trust Him! Praying for all of those affected by this tragic loss for the peace that passes understanding. <3

  14. Let’s keep the prayers for this family and today needs our support and encouraging words. The same way that Mandy did for us for so many time in her words by blogging. We are in this together Courtney! Blessings to all!

  15. What a beautiful tribute! I didn’t know Mandy personally, but feel such a bond with her on so many levels. She was a woman pursuing Jesus with all her heart, and serving Him with the gift of her words. You lived well, and served the gospel well, Mandy! Her legacy will live on – and I pray it will help to comfort her friends and family in the days, weeks, and years to come. Sending prayers for those two beautiful children who have lost so much. God is going to use their lives in amazing ways – I know it!

  16. Oh my dear friend, she is missed so deeply. I rejoice with them, because I know they are right where they always wanted to be. But I am sad for us, because my hearts long to hear her voice just one more time.

  17. She always had such sweet encouragement for the leaders and I so appreciated how she would pray over us. Saddened, stunned, shocked at the loss of this family and heartbroken for those two surviving children.

    I have been and will continue to pray for them and the extended family.

  18. I am truly heartbroken for your loss! I wish we could be there to hug you all one by one! Love to you all

  19. My deepest condolences and prayers to her family and her friends. May God wrap those of us who mourn in comfort and deep love. Sending much love.

  20. I am so sad. I pray with all my heart for these poor childrens. Mandy was a wonderful woman. I loved read this blog. We are all in my prayers. ????????????????????

  21. This news has upset me so much, I have cried buckets for the family holding them in prayer. We cannot truly understand why these things happen, but makes us aware that we have to live each & every day as if it were our last – Mandy & her husband & little ones are in heaven now I truly believe that as they were an abiding family & that truly comforts me.

  22. At first, it was my human response to question, how could God let such a spiritual godly beautiful family with a newly adopted baby boy to die this way and so tragically? And then I remember all the disciples deaths, and Jesus himself on the cross beaten to unrecognizable. God does not promise us how we will die or if we will go thru a hard painful death,, but what will happen after if we follow him and are committed to him. I can only think that his angels were around them as they transitioned to the next world. All my prayers and love.

  23. We weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn. Our prayers are with you, her children who were not in the fire, her extended family and friends. We suffered a loss of a ministry couple the same way recently. Our hearts are still hurting over the void created, but we do know where they are, and where we will all be reunited. Knowing the same is true about Mandy and her family is where our comfort begins.

  24. When I got the news I dropped my call in uncontrable tears. How much impart she had made even for those who never saw her face to face but knew her through her words.
    She wil be greatly missed.

    I followed her blog. She was a hard worker…dedicated to mnistry and service of the saints.

    Thank you Courtney for pulling up your seat to write this. I know it must have been hard.

    We still prayed for her surviving kids just this morning.

    The Lord help us to finish well. And I pray we will be ready or mission here is done and He calls us home.

    Hugs and Blessed Peace to everyone.

  25. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, Courtney. She sure seemed like an amazing person. My prayers are with her family and all who loved her.

  26. Am very sad to hear this new. My deepest condolences to their families and friends.
    It’s a blessing to know that when life’s journey has ended, Jesus will be waiting, and the Lord will say well done my good and faithful servant.
    Rest in Heaven Beloveds, we shall all meet again someday, and oh what a great day that will be…..
    I will keep their children, and families in my thoughts and prayers.

  27. Grateful for the journey of this family and the mark they left for Jesus. Humanly, though we suffer much grief in such losses, and Courtney, you have had your share of losses in this last year or so. Lean hard into Jesus. He knows your pain and grief….remember Emmanuel—God with us—until you meet your dear friend again. Praying for those children left behind.

  28. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. She apparently was loved well by many. I have thought and prayed for their other two children multiple times daily ever since. I pray for you and your team as you go through this difficult time.

  29. Tears of sadness for the loss of a friend and loved ones.
    Smiles for the happy reunion in heaven some day.

  30. Prayers are going up for all those left behind. Prayers for comfort, strength and peace. Knowing we will see them soon.

  31. My heart dropped when I read this. I had just liked one of her tweets on Twitter a few days ago…I read her blog…her family had such sweet smiles. I’ll definitely be praying for her surviving family members, for God to give them the strength and courage to continue on.

  32. This is so devastatingly heartbreaking. Prayers for those who knew the family members who have passed as well as for the children surviving this tragedy.

  33. Praying for all of her friends and family at this time. Thank you Courtney for posting information about contributions.

  34. Courtney,
    I’m so sorry. 🙁
    Hugs from PA,
    Kim A.

    I read these verses in Isaiah 66 today….seems like they were meant for this tragedy:

    12 For this is what the Lord says:

    “I will extend peace to her like a river,
    and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;
    you will nurse and be carried on her arm
    and dandled on her knees.
    13 As a mother comforts her child,
    so will I comfort you;
    and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

  35. Mandy lived in our city and was a member of a nearby Classical Conversations homeschool community. Our family uses CC as well, and I direct our CC community, and so I heard of her passing through those lines of communication first. As I found out more about Mandy, I have been so impressed at how well she and her husband shone for Jesus. Even in this awful tragedy, the message of the gospel and their love for the Lord is what is coming out in the local media. I have been and will be praying for all of their family and friends left behind, especially their older children Bekah and Judah.

  36. My heart is heavy for you and their family especially their two children. Praying God’s comfort over them and all of you during this time.

  37. How tragic! I know God has a plan and will provide and care for their two older children but my heart breaks for them. Prayers for comfort and strength for them, other family members and friends. I know to be absent from this life is to be present with our Lord…but…still heart breaking for their close family and friends.

  38. I remember reading a post by Mandy on WLW or Karen Ehman’s blog in the last year. Although I don’t know her personally, I wanted to help so I donated as a WLW online friend.

  39. This is so sad to hear, May God be with the kids and may the soul of Mandy,her husband and two kids rest in eternal peace. I will pray for the kids that are left behind and the entire family. May God be their strength to get through this hard time.
    And to Courtney may the almighty bless you and give you more strength to get by.

  40. Like everyone else on here, I am so terribly sorry for your loss personally and to the team. May the God of all comfort give you peace during this grieving time!

  41. I am so sorry for your loss – the loss of this beautiful woman, her husband and two of her children. I am praying that you will be comforted each day as you grieve for your friend. We have a hope but it still hurts deeply. Praying for you Courtney!

  42. Courtney, I am so sorry to hear this tragic news. Praying for you and their families. May the God of all comfort give the comfort that only He can give.

  43. We live in South Carolina and I heard about the terrible house fire last week. I am so very sorry for your loss and for the two precious survivors. I was up early this morning ready no your book Women Living Well and just “happened” to see a recent email and just happened to scroll down and see the link to this blog post. Something I rarely ever do. God be with you and your ministry.

  44. I just read about Mandy last night and this morning have been in tears for their children and loved ones left to go through their tears. I loved reading Mandy’s thoughts, her heart for Jesus was so apparent in her writings.
    I have a song going through my head, “Give Me Jesus” by Jeremy Camp. We have this world for right now, but Mandy is with Jesus right now and I can’t imagine a better place to be.
    I’ll be praying for Judah and Bekah, that they are surrounded by people who allow them to grieve for their parents and siblings and yes, even their home, and the life they knew in the way THEY NEED to (not the way others “think” they should). That they will constantly have people reaffirming the Lord’s love for them. I pray they will have people who will keep their parents and siblings alive for them through memories.

  45. I’m shocked to find this out. My condolences to those who loved her most. This is sad news and even sadder for those who were close to her. Praying for you all.

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