Valencia Kennedy's Obituary
Services for Mrs. Valencia Kennedy, 58, of Lufkin, is scheduled at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 26, 2022, in the Abundant Life Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Mrs. Kennedy was born on February 11, 1964, in Lufkin, and died on Sunday, February 13, 2022, in Lufkin.
Valencia Ruth Kennedy was born in Lufkin, Texas on February 11, 1964, to the late Oscar
Kennedy and Bettie Ruth Kennedy. She was to us, "Lency," and to some "Big Red."
Valencia was baptized at New Zion Baptist Church at a very young age, under the leadership of the late L.D. Bell. Valencia attended schools in Lufkin and graduated from Lufkin High School with the Class of 1982. She was a popular student and loved her classmates. She played clarinet in the Jr. High School Band under the direction of Mr. Bobby Richardson. She also was a gifted athlete and ran track under the direction of Mrs. Willie Mae Burley.
Valencia married Jack Reggie, Jr. Shortly after graduating from High School, and to this union was born one son, Jack Reggie, Ill, and a year later a daughter, LaRhonde Xavier LeShe'.Valencia was a hard worker and worked multiple jobs to raise and care for her children. She attended Angelina College and received her certification as a Nursing Assistant (CNA). She worked at various Nursing Homes in the Lufkin area. She was a loving and attentive caregiver who took exceptional care of her patients. In later years as her health began to wane, and she could no longer work full time, Valencia worked part-time at the Lewis-Toran Community Center, serving lunch meals to seniors. She loved decorating the Center and making it inviting and festive for the senior citizens. In recent years, Valencia joined Abundant Life UMC. Her declining n health had not allowed her to be as active as she would have liked. The joy of her life was her family, especially her children and grandchildren. She was the one who you could count on to plan a celebration, no matter the occasion because she loved to bring the family together. She especially loved to celebrate in February the month of her birth, which included: the birthdays of three of her siblings, (Keith, Bettell, and Willette), her niece (Marea Franklin), Her niece's husband, (Dr. Brodus Franklin), brother-in-law, (Anthony Watts, and play big brother, (Anthony Pendland). She was planning a big birthday celebration this year just before her passing. As she expressed in a text o Willette, she wanted to celebrate: "So we can have a big old good time with all my family, take pictures and eat. Valencia will especially be missed for her excellent cooking, sassiness, wit, humor, and overall love of life.
Valencia was preceded in death by her father, Oscar Kennedy; Mother, Bettie R. Kennedy; Sister, Oscar Vernell Kennedy-Jordan and niece, Shanita Kennedy.
Survivors: Special friend, James Lewis; Son, Jack (Jawuoia) Reggie, Ill; Daughter, LaRohnde
"Shay" (Brandon) Kennedy-Garner; nine grandchildren, Keyshawn, Braylon, Jazzlyn, Jayden,
Jaxen, Gianna, Ja'Quentin, Ja'Lencia, and Ja'Nia; Sisters, Miriam (Howard) Coleman, Bettell
(Rex) Benham, Willette (Roy) DuBose, Bettie (Anthony) Watts, and Angela Moreland; Brothers, Oscar D. (Myrtle) Kennedy; Kermit Kennedy and Keith (Lisa) Kennedy; A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and very dear friends.
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