SOUTHERN PINES, NC – Flora Mae Kelly Perkins, 93, of Southern Pines, passed away at the FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital on Sunday, January 1, 2017.

Her funeral will be held at the Brownson Presbyterian Church, 330 South May Street, on Thursday, January 5 at 1:00 o’clock.The family will receive friends prior to the service starting at 12:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Burial will follow at the Union Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 2000 Union Church Rd. Cameron.

Mrs. Perkins was born and raised in Moore County to the late John Malcolm and Frances Vick Kelly. After graduating from Farm Life High School, Flora went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree from Flora McDonald College with graduate work at UNC – Chapel Hill. She enjoyed teaching at Silk Hope Elementary School, Broadway Elementary in Lee County, and Southern Pines Elementary. It was during her time at Broadway that she met and later married Allen Kimrey Perkins in 1951. They moved to Southern Pines in 1967 and retired after 40+ years of teaching.

Flora had been a charter member of the Moore County chapter of A.D.K. Teachers Sorority and a recent recipient of a scholarship named in her honor. She was known as a gracious hostess and for her passionate love of her family and Church.

Mrs. Perkins was the loving wife of Allen Kimrey Perkins of Southern Pines. She was the mother of Kay Mitchell Thomas (Hal) of Murfreesboro, and Jo Perkins Elmore (Matt) of Clayton. She was the sister of Bert Kelly Maness of Asheboro and the late John Malcolm Kelly, Charles Pat Kelly, Norman Wayne Kelly, and Minnie Lee Kelly. She was the grandmother of Jennifer Perkins Mitchell, Christina Kelly Mitchell, Allyson Elmore (Courtney) and Allan Mitchell, and great – granddaughter, Addison Elmore.

Contributions in Flora’s memory may be made to: Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church, 330 S. May St. Southern Pines, N.C. 28387; Union Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 898 Carthage, NC 28327; or Stanley A. Mitchell and A.K. and Flora Perkins Education Scholarship at Chowan University, One University Place, Murfreesboro, N.C. 27855

Online condolences may be made at www.BolesFuneralHome.com.

Boles Funeral of Southern Pines is assisting the family.