Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. James Kennedy

KENNEDY, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. James - Age 84, passed away Friday, August 26, 2022, at Willowbrook Manor. Family hour 11:30 AM Saturday September 3, 2022, at Mount Carmel Baptist Church, 1610 W. Person Rd., with funeral service commencing at 12:00 PM Rev. Ralphael D. Read officiating. Entombment Flint Memorial Park Cemetery, G9506 N Dort Hwy., Mt Morris,MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11:30 AM Saturday. Rev. Dr. Kennedy will lie in state at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church and may be viewed from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM Friday. A celebration of life service will begin at 5:00 PM Friday., September 2, 2022.Rev. Dr. James Earl Kennedy, also known as “PK” was born June 28, 1938, in Weir Mississippi, the son of the late Ethel and Girtha Kennedy and was one of seven children. He was educated in the Flint Public School System, graduating from Central High School. He furthered his education receiving a Bachelor Degree in Social Work from John Wesley College, and then studied abroad at Oxford University in England. Rev. Dr. James E. Kennedy worked for General Motors Corporation for more than thirty years where he was an advocate for justice, standing up for the unfair wages of minorities and women in the manufacturing industry. Even winning a class action lawsuit against General Motors. Dr. Kennedy served on many boards such as the NAACP, Urban League, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. He was a retired Rotarian, retiring from the Rotary Club of Flint. Rev. Dr. Kennedy accepted the call of God and after five years in the ministry founded Mount Carmel Baptist Church in April of 1981. He served as Pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church for thirty-five years. He retired, after more than 40 years in the ministry, as Senior Pastor of Mount Carmel Church in April of 2017. Becoming Pastor Emeritus until his call to glory, August 26, 2022. Rev. Dr. James E. Kennedy leaves in God’s care to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Mary A. Kennedy and her two children, Stephanie and Ervin Thornton II, her two grandchildren Raven & Kamari Thornton. His sister, Glyndean Lane. His three daughters, Stephon, Sandra, and Sherri Kennedy. His granddaughter, Micah Kennedy; and great-grandson, Kyro Kennedy; sisters-in-law, Claudette, Dorothy, and Brenda Kennedy; special son, Pastor Michael Pettigrew; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Rev. Dr. Kennedy was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Girtha Kennedy; brothers, Ethel Charles, Daniel, Burnis, and Fredrick Kennedy; sisters, Earnstine Kennedy and Gearldean Lott; brothers-in-law, Ladell Lane and Jackson Lott.

Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. James Kennedy

June 28, 1938 - August 26, 2022