Owings, MD – Linda L. Kelley, who was a familiar voice and face in Calvert County as both an elected official and advocate for a variety of causes and programs, died at her home in Owings Feb. 1, her family reported. Last Tuesday, Jan. 24 the Calvert County Commissioners, knowing that Kelley’s health was failing, voted unanimously to name the county’s planned animal shelter in her honor.
Kelley, who was 74, served an unprecedented four consecutive terms as a Calvert County commissioner. She was first elected in 1994. After winning reelection in 1998 and with the Republicans holding a 3-2 majority on the board, Kelley was unanimously selected board president. She presided over the board for two years. Before, during and after her 16-year tenure as a commissioner, Kelley was a vocal advocate for the Safe Harbor Shelter, which she helped found; the public school system’s Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps programs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and the humane care of all animals. During the 1990s the Washington Post’s Sunday Magazine did a lengthy story on Kelley’s unique household pets—several pot-belly pigs.
Politically, Kelley advocated for residential growth control, land preservation and fiscal restraint.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of Commissioner Kelley’s passing today,” Calvert County GOP tweeted Wednesday evening. “Our condolences go out to her family.”
“Linda Kelley was a wonderful lady,” Christine Gardiner McDanal, a resident of St. Mary’s County posted on her Facebook page. “I asked my Eagle Scout son if he remembered meeting her and he said, ‘The lady with the flag?’ Linda gave Calvert County flags to all the Eagle Scouts and Girl Scout Gold recipients, whose ceremonies she attended. Even though we are in St. Mary’s County, she was such a strong supporter of Scouting in the area, we invited her to our son’s Eagle Court and she brought a Calvert flag for him. A few years ago, she received some pictures of her flags from former scouts who took the flags with them when they moved on. She started a Facebook page for them. The page didn’t get much traction, but hearing my son identify her as the lady with the flag made me think of it.”
Visitation for Linda L. Kelley will be held Thursday, Feb. 9 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Rausch Funeral Home on Mt. Harmony Lane in Owings. Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 10 at noon at First Lutheran Church of Calvert, 6300 Southern Maryland Boulevard in Huntingtown. Contributions in memory of Linda Kelley may be made to Safe Harbor of Calvert.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com