Rowena Yvette Kelley
(1971 – 2020)
Dr. Rowena Yvette Kelley, a plant biotechnologist, died on Friday, December 18, 2020 in Adelphi, Maryland, United States of America. She was 49 years old. Rowena was born on May 20, 1971, in Monrovia, Liberia. She grew up in Monrovia where she attended B. W. Harris Episcopal High School and St. Teresa’s Convent High School before departing for the United States. She was a graduate of Overbrook High School, Delaware State University, North Carolina Agricultural &Technical State University and Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University. At 24, she was the only person to receive a master’s degree at North Carolina A&T in plant biotechnology. She graduated with a 3.8 GPA.
Rowena's interest in plant science developed while she was in high school. At school, she participated in the Boy Scouts of America Explorers Program. It was while Kelley was a student at Delaware State University, that she decided to pursue a career in agricultural research, an area that biotechnology falls under. At Delaware State, Kelley participated in several internships included working at U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agriculture Research Service, Cornell University, Geneva, New York, and Stine-Haskill Dupont in Newark, Delaware. She also participated in the Minority Bio-medical Research Support Program.
Upon graduating from Delaware State University, Kelley received a full scholarship and an assistantship from the School of Agriculture at North Carolina A&T. At A&T she worked with high school students from the NASA Sharp Plus Program, where she designed and aided students in research projects. Her research at A&T was to predict acid / aluminum tolerance in alfalfa cultivars using hematoxylin staining. She worked on developing a screening procedure to determine the different types of alfalfa that were tolerance to high concentration of acids in aluminum and soils. Rowena enrolled in a doctoral program in plant biotechnology at Alabama A&M, Huntsville, Alabama where her research focused on the genetic effects for transfer of regenerability in oats.
As impressive as her education and resume are, her most outstanding quality was the size of her heart. Rowena loved! Rowena's capacity to love was endless. She loved God, her family, her friends, her students, her Church family and her co-workers. Rowena loved everyone and welcomed them with a smile. Rowena had a unique capacity to sense the needs of others and a strong desire to be helpful.
Rowena loved her son, Devyn. She was proud to share all of his achievements and loved talking about him to everyone. She worked hard to ensure he had not just what he needed but, also, what he wanted. Rowena was diligent about preparing Devyn for a good future.
Rowena is survived by her son Devyn, her sister Geraldine, her brothers Lewis Jr., Felix (Gbine), Andrew (Andy), Joel (Whitney) and Emery, uncle Mackerson Kelley (Henrietta), her aunts Martha Kelley, Millie Kelley, Mary David, stepmother Josephine Kelley, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her parents, Lewis Sr. & Hilda Louise, sister Adrianna Bunchy and brother Owen predeceased her.
Burial arrangements for Dr. Kelley will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 in Philadelphia, PA. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, State and facility capacity restrictions, the homegoing service is limited to family only.
VIEWING ONLY:
Wednesday, January 06, 2021 (Commencing at 9 AM – 11 AM)
Christopher Kent Funeral Home
6506-20 Haverford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19151
INTERMENT FOLLOWS AT:
Fernwood Cemetery & Mausoleum
6501 Baltimore Avenue
Fernwood (Landsdowne), PA 19050
FAMILY CONTACTS:
Geraldine Madison (917) 373-4429
Lewis E. Kelley, Jr. (240) 893-0330
Felix Kelley +231 88 655 6633
Andy Kelley +231 77 568 2746
Martha Kelley (917) 689-0119
Mackerson Kelley (216) 269-2014
Josephine Kelley (317) 340-6842
Christine Caine (267) 496-5099
