Kellie Blackston

Kellie Blackston-Keys was born Wednesday, May 8th,1974, in Baltimore, Maryland, to her devoted parents Joseph Blackston, Sr. and the late Patricia Ann Blackston. She was the fourth child of ten. Kellie left her earthly home on Wednesday December 21, 2022, when the Lord decided to call her home to rest. She was preceded in death by her husband Dwayne Joseph Keys, mother (Patricia), brother (Daniel Sr.), nephew (James Jr.), two grandmothers (Dorothy Blackston, and Amy Garrett); for her earthly mission had been completed.

Kellie received her education in the Baltimore City public school system.

For years, she worked as a deli clerk at supermarkets, until she decided to follow her passion as a home healthcare aide. She enjoyed doing this so much, for Kellie, it wasn’t about the money. Kellie was such a hard worker! All her life she was always working to make sure her girls were ok. Kellie loved them dearly; they meant the world to her. She always made sure they knew the Lord, ever since they were little. Having a relationship with the Lord was so important to her and she made sure her girls knew how serious she was about it. Kellie was a devout Christian and was baptized at the Central Church of Christ in December of 1986. It was always Kellie and her girls until March 10th, 2008, when she was united in Holy matrimony with Dwayne Joseph Keys. She loved her husband so deeply; he was the best thing that ever happened to her. She always said, “God blessed me with a husband who’s almost as good as my Dad”. On September 11th, 2012, Kellie found a different type of love she never felt before, she became a “MaMa”, which she was affectionately called by her grand babies. She cherished her eight grandchildren more than anything in this world and she always let it be known. They could do no wrong in her eyes. She would send them birthday cards and she talked to them on the phone literally every day. They had their own made-up names that only she called them. They gave her so much strength to go on in her hardest times. She would always tell them how much she loved them; they all shared a special connection with her. She will be greatly missed. Kellie loved her family. All her nieces and nephews called her the “favorite aunt”. To know Kellie was to absolutely love her. She was the real definition of LOYAL! My boys, (as she called her nephews Shane, Chance, and Garette) who she and her husband raised as their own. She loved them just as much as she loved her girls. She always said they were a blessing into her life. Kellie was the most loving, nurturing, caring, straight forward person. She loved helping people. Kellie would give you the shirt off her back and you’ll never hear of her doing it. Kellie and her sister Tracie (who she called her other half), shared a bond like no other. She knew if Tracie called, she’ll come running no matter what. Kellie leaves to cherish her memory her father Joseph Blackston Sr., her daughters India (Eric Sr.), Angel ‘Tyeisha (Shawn Sr.), Ashna (Terrance); her eight grandchildren Ava, Nylah, Ahlanii, Zorie, Skylah, Alivia, Ariah; her only grandson Isaiah; her boys Shane, Chance, and Garrett; three aunts (Barbara Jones, Barbara Blackston and Elizabeth Presco), one uncle (Linwood Blackston Sr); her siblings, Joseph Jr. (Shelia), Milton (Lenore), Tracie (Derrick Sr.), Lakeshia, James Sr., Patricia (Darius Sr.), Marcus (Shawanna), Dorothy (Keon); 1 sister-in-law Tanya (Jacob); her nieces and nephews, Joseph III (Tinika), Jeffrey (Renee), Gary, Nasir, Daniel Jr., Joshua, Darius Jr., Tracie, Leah, Reality, Kyamhia, Charity, Kaytlin, Makhia, Semaj, Brooklyn, Jamison, Trey’Shell, Ajah, Aylah, Londyn; one great nephew Zion; two great nieces Neriah and Tourie; one special daughter she gained through unconditional love Kyleigh and a host of numerous loving Cousins and Friends.