Carole Kell, 85, a longtime educator in the Cobb County School District and the widow of former Wheeler High School football coach and Kell High School namesake Corky Kell, died on Thursday.
There will be a visitation Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 5-7 p.m. at Mayes Ward Dobbins Funeral Home (180 Church St., Marietta). A funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church (955 Johnson Ferry Road.) in East Cobb.
Survivors include her daughter, Kimberly Kell Stinson, and her son, Carlton LaTain Kell, a son- and daughter-in-law, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Carole Kell was a teacher and principal in the Cobb County School District for 33 years, assigned to East Cobb, Dodgen, Dickerson and Hightower Trail middle schools.
“A lifelong lover of English and reading, Carole influenced thousands of young people—many of whom went on to become educators themselves,” her obituary states.
“She was a mentor to students, teachers, and principals alike, and her impact will be felt for generations to come.”
Corky Kell coached Wheeler to the Georgia Class AAA state football championship game in 1973, and later became the Cobb school district’s athletic director.
He died of cancer in 1995 at the age of 57, and she”poured her heart into supporting athletics and academics at Carlton J. Kell High School,” according to her obituary.
Kell High School was named in his honor and opened in 2002, and she was involved in the process for choosing the Longhorns nickname.
She founded the Carlton J. Kell Teacher Scholarship program and the Corky Kell Excellence in Coaching Award; as well as served on the advisory committee for Kell High School and the Corky Kell Kickoff Classic.
Carole Kell was chairwoman of the “Give Our Schools a Hand” committee of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, and she was a chair of the Wellstar Cancer Council, a vice chair of the Wellstar Kennestone Regional Board, chair of the Wellstar Foundation Board of Trustees, and chair of the YMCA Cobb Executive Board.
Her other community work included service with the Cobb/Douglas Board of Health, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre ArtsBridge Program Committee, Cobb Chamber Business Education Steering Committee, Cobb Boys and Girls Club Board, and the Cobb Republican Women’s Club.
In 2006, she was named the East Cobb Citizen of the Year by the East Cobb Area Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
She also was a longtime member of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.
Other survivors include a brother, three nieces and two great-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wellstar Foundation.
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