Fredda Lee Shelton Kennington, 91, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, at her home on Table Rock Lake in Missouri with her family surrounding her. Table Rock was Fredda and Bob’s most favorite place and the perfect setting for her to say her last goodbye.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at Regions Bank — “Sunburst Bank Corporate Headquarters” — 2000 Gateway St., in Grenada. She will be laid to rest beside Bob in Odd Fellows Cemetery with a private graveside memorial to be held at a later time. Celebrations of Life will also be held in Springfield, Mo., and at her home on Table Rock Lake in the Spring of 2025. The family asks that you please embrace color in your attire rather than dark hues as Fredda loved color.
Fredda was born on Aug. 1, 1933, in Martin, Tenn. She grew up in Jackson and attended Bailey Junior High and Central High School, graduating in 1951. She attended Millsaps College where she graduated Cum Laude with a degree in history in 1955. Fredda was a member of Chi Omega Sorority, serving as treasurer and president, was presented by the Debutante Club of Mississippi in 1953, and was named Miss Millsaps in 1955. Fredda married the love of her life, Bob Kennington, on Oct. 15, 1955. They were married 44 years and together had four children.
Mrs. Kennington spent the majority of her life in Grenada where she was an active member and volunteer for many organizations — The Grenada Garden Club, The Junior Auxiliary, Kirk Academy Booster Club, The Southern Debutante Assembly, The Debutante Club of Mississippi, Kanakuk Kamps, The Boy Scouts of America, Bible Study Fellowship and The First United Methodist Church. Fredda, affectionately known as “The Queen,” was the embodiment of a Southern Belle with her intelligence, beauty, loyalty, hospitality, love for God and love for family. Her favorite role was that of wife, mother and “Mamaw” — all of which she enjoyed to the fullest.
Her husband, Robert “Bob” Estes Kennington II of Grenada; her parents, Leota Elizabeth Shelton and Vernon Edward Burkhead of Jackson; her sisters, Dorothy Burkhead Mills of Jackson and Vera Burkhead Williams of Jackson, Tenn., and her brother, Vernon Lee Burkhead of Jefferson, Texas, preceded Mrs. Kennington in death.
Survivors include, her sons, Robert Vernon Kennington and his wife, Margaret Denise Kennington, of Grenada, Shelton Lee Kennington of Jackson and David Christopher “Chris” Kennington of Reeds Spring, Mo.; her daughter, Elizabeth Kathleen “Katie” Kennington Vance and her husband, John Richard Vance, of Springfield, Mo., and daughter-in-law, Julie Medlang Kennington of Ridgeland. Fredda is also survived by grandchildren, Robert Clark Kennington and his wife, Nicole Valentine Kennington, of Easton, Mo., Allyson Kathleen “Ally” Kennington Coleman and her husband, Braxton Bryant Coleman, of Coffeeville, Victoria Kathleen “Tori” Kennington of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Ryan Shelton Kennington and his fiancé, Kera Leighanne Whiteaker, of Portsmouth, R.I., and Richard Coleman “Cole” Vance, Caroline Kennington Vance and Camille Elizabeth Vance, all of Springfield, Mo.; four great grandchildren, Robert Hayes Kennington of Canton, Klayton Michael Coleman and Kollin Estes Coleman, both of Coffeeville and Robert Edward “Robbie” Kennington of Easton, Mo., and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Fredda deeply appreciated and cherished God’s beautiful world. There was not a bird, flower, plant or tree that she could not name.
The family requests flowers be donated to local assisted living facilities or hospitals or donations be made to a flower or tree planting organization in Fredda’s memory to honor her deep love for nature.
