Leathia Marie Kelly was born on April 30, 1931, in Wrentham, Massachusetts, the seventh child of Dennis Nathaniel and Leathia Marie Johns-Irving. Lea as she was affectionately call by her friends and family received her education in the small town of Wrentham, Massachusetts. After graduating from Wrentham High School, she started her career as a typist in Pondville, Massachusetts and soon became a Medical Transcriptionist.

A few years later she met and married George Layman Kelly and had two daughters, Dianne and Lisa. Sadly, Leathia’s marriage ended in a separation and then a divorce. In August of 1965, Lea moved to California with her two daughters as a single parent.

Determined to support herself and her family, Lea worked two jobs for awhile. She worked at Monrovia Memorial Hospital, in Monrovia, California, Inter-Community Medical Hospital, in Covina, California, and Magan Medical Clinic, in Covina, California.

Leathia leaves behind to cherish her memory, daughters Dianne Marie Lee, Lisa Ann Saleem, grandchildren Roy Murphy III, Brendon Anthony Lee, Najah Zakiyyah Saleem, Taji Saleem, and Jordan Lee