Naomi Kennedy Obituary (1939 - 2024) - Greeneville, Tennessee

Naomi Ruth Gessner Kennedy, 85, of Greeneville, Tennessee passed away Monday, May 6th, 2024. Naomi was born April 5, 1939, in Youngstown, Ohio, to the late John Frederick Gessner and Louise Anna Gessner. Naomi attended Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, MD. She worked for the Seventh Day Adventist Church as a bookkeeper and secretary. Naomi loved her church and was always willing to help with church activities. She would drive hundreds of miles to help out with meetings. Naomi loved spending time in nature. She was ready to go camping whenever asked. Working hard to make the trip enjoyable, she would spend hours packing and getting food ready for the trip. She loved sharing and encouraging her friends by writing letters and calling them. Reading was very important to her. She would look for books that students would like. She would purchase the books and give them to the school library so the students would have good nonfiction books to read. When James and Ron came into her life, Naomi worked very hard to give them a warm and loving home. She would try to find something special for them to eat and made sure their clothes were ready for school. Naomi is survived by her husband James Kennedy, her sons James Richard (Tigist) Kennedy and Ronald Allen (Michelle) Kennedy, brother John F. Gessner Jr., and grandson Philip Andrew Kennedy. Naomi was preceded in death by her father John Frederick Gessner, mother Louise Anna Gessner, grandson Grant Taylor Kennedy,sister Mary Louise Neuman, brother-in-law Howard Kennedy, sister-in-law Joan Gessner. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Voice of Prophecy, Box 999, Loveland, CO 80539 or to the local Seventh-Day Adventist Church School Worthy Student Fund. There will be a private graveside service. Thoughts and memories may be shared with the family at www.jeffersmortuary.com