Sekou Toure Kelley

Mansfield, Sekou Toure Kelley, 61, passed away Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at home from an extended illness. Sekou was born March 28, 1962, in Mansfield, Ohio to Priscilla Mae Kelley and the late John Campbell Jr. Sekou was baptized at an early age. He stayed committed and was God fearing. Although he lived his life as he knew best, he always kept his faith in the Lord. Sekou went to school in Mansfield, Ohio, graduating from Malabar High School in 1980. He had a passion for cooking and attended Culinary School earning him a degree in Culinary Arts in St Louis MO. He worked at a few restaurants such as Angelos and Charlie Gitto’s. He was known in the family for making a few of his specialty dishes with his stuffed duck being a crowd pleaser. There were times he often thought he was the only one who knew how to cook. Sekou also was a music lover to the core. He was in a group called “Just Us” with his best friend Michael Daniels since elementary school and a group of friends from high School. Not only could he sing but he also made history in Mansfield as the first African American to play a timbale drum for the Mighty Malabar Falcon Marching Band. He and Michael cooked and made great music together and remained best friends until today. Sekou lived in St Louis as he continued cooking for a living. He and his then mate Darlene White-Rice, from St. Louis, MO gave birth to a beautiful daughter Selena in 1982. In 1993 Sekou married Nicola Saine. One daughter, Shaniqua Kelly came from this union. Sekou and Nicola later divorced. Sekou leaves to cherish his sweet memories, his mother, Pricilla Jefferson, of Mansfield, OH; daughters, Selena (Gerard) Robinson, and Shaniqua Kelly all of St. Louis, MO; siblings, Terry(Jimmy) Gordon, Morgiana Lindsay, Rena(Roosevelt) Harris, Amir(Beth) Lindsay, and Cephas Lindsay, all from Mansfield, OH; aunts, Nonia Jackson and Ardis Kelly all of Mansfield, OH, and Annie Edwards, of St. Louis, MO; a dear friend, Brenda Pope, of St Louis, MO; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, John Campbell Jr.; grandmother, Ar’Razzaaq Shakir, uncle’s, Jerry Kelley, William Kelley, Patrick Kelley, and Abubakr Kellsey; an aunt, Leatha Gardner. The calling hours will be Sunday, March 10, 2024, from 3 – 5 pm, at Small’s Funeral Services, 326 Park Ave. West, Mansfield, Ohio. The family has entrusted Small’s Funeral Services with the arrangements.

Sekou Toure Kelley

March 28, 1962 - March 6, 2024