Erin Olivia Kelley

Erin Olivia Kelley, born on October 23, 2003, lived her life in the enchanted valley of Young Harris, Georgia. She received her primary and secondary education through the Towns County school system before attending Young Harris College, where she earned a Bachelor of Communications. At the college she was inducted into ΣΒΣ, known as The Susan B.’s, an affiliation that remained a constant source of joy and pride throughout her life. She worked at Brasstown Valley Resort, a place she loved and where she was beloved in return.

Erin was bold, honest, clear, and candid. Naturally funny and exceedingly talented, she was a brilliant and soulful singer who could just as easily deliver a silly impression. A tactful storyteller, an enrapturing actor who fully embodied her roles, a burgeoning poet, a crafter, and a collector of toys, tales, and people alike, she always seemed to have the best gossip—and if she did not, she would create it. In every pursuit she followed with passion, she found success. To her brother she was a wonderful sister and, in their youth, an imaginative and present playmate.

A person of great conviction, Erin was proud and spoke her truths. She embraced her feelings and acted on them with enviable certainty, possessing a freedom few could rival. She fought for her beliefs regardless of the battle, and those she chose to stand beside knew they had an unwavering ally. She believed deeply in being true to oneself and in accepting and encouraging others brave enough to do the same, a spirit reflected in the Susan B.’s motto she cherished: “We don’t care who you are, we don’t care what you do, as long as you stay true to you.”

Her loss leaves the world incomplete. May the peace she now knows offer some comfort to those who loved her.