American Cancer Society Invites Tekelia Kelly  to Celebrate Life Through Song

Interestingly, Tekelia had already purposed that she would be "celebrating life through song" upon the celebration of her 50th birthday on September 11, 2009 (911).  "With my birthday being on "911" a very memorable day; and turning 50 years old being a special milestone in life, I wanted to do something special and personal to celebrate and remember the day, and the year.  So, I thought, in giving thanks to God for all He has given me, I will give back to Him  my gifts, talents, everything I have; to celebrate life and encourage mankind", says the 'helper of man'--a meaning given for her middle name Cassaundra that also agrees with her desire to inspire others.

That was before the one-year cancer survivor was diagnosed with colon cancer, a few months after her  50^th birthday.  About that she says, "I find it all a blessing, a miracle, and inspirational: my 50th birthday celebration and declaration, singing and songwriting again, publishing my songs, being diagnosed with colon cancer, going through surgery and chemotherapy, still being alive, resolving to celebrate life with a new norm, finding one of my 30-year old studio recordings "Because of You" online, and that it had been released world-wide, and then being asked to sing for the American Cancer Society.  It's been an amazing ride!  I am truly celebrating life--through song--and now I will be also 'helping to make a world full of more birthdays'; thanks to the American Cancer Society!"

Although heavily involved in music since childhood: singing solos in church, and performing  for hire as a professional  songstress for special events/occasions, and even as an entertainer while in college at Libertyland Theme Park in Memphis, Tennessee, Tekelia decided to play it safe after graduating from Memphis State University; and pursued a career in industrial engineering and business.  She went on to work professionally for corporations like Federal Express, First Tennessee Bank, and Provident Companies. 

Now entrepreneur of Tekelia C. Kelly Enterprises, doing business as For Your Information and Sisters In Business.net, the  freelance project manager has added to her portfolio over the years projects such as the University of Tennessee Chattanooga’s Cross-campus Smart-classroom Podium Implementation, Nashville’s Frist Center Emergency Action Plan Elearning System, Mapco Petroleum’s Computer Training Program in Memphis, TN, Sisters In Business.Net  business/social networking platform, and numerous other projects.  Professionally, she works full-time as an Instructional Design Coordinator, creating Elearning courses and managing the Learning Management System for a major local security company.

Her latest pet project TekeliaKelly.com “will be the boom of her career” says web designers at DB Graphics. Tekelia kicked-off her signature project by first searching the internet to make sure the domain name, her name, was still available.  When she found that it was, she also discovered that one of her 1980’s recordings Because of You, from when signed with the legendary Sounds of Memphis Studios in Memphis, TN,  had been released world-wide in June 2010.

“I was so excited!  I thought…oh my goodness…wow…how amazing is this…and the timing is so perfect… …from my whole life’s  journey to Memphis, to celebrating my 50th birthday on 911, to dealing with  the cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, and resolving to celebrate life anyway,  to discovering the release of the Because of You soundtrack, and how I had turned that particular song into a personal praise and worship  to God, because of its beautiful title and lyrics--well before its release was just awe inspiring!” says Tekelia.  Because of you is part of the song library of Becky Publishing Company, owner Linda Lucchesi.  I had to soak it all in…and am still having to. There’s a bigger picture here.  I just thank God!  For it truly a God-thing”, she says.

Tekelia also began registering her own songs that she had written as far back as the 1970’s when she was a teen with BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) where she is an official songwriter and member.  Tekelia was reminded about how she used to write songs by her sister and business partner Dorothea Johnson, owner of Inner Glow Skin Care Service.  This led to her remembering and finding the audio cassette her mother had given her years ago that had many of the songs Tekelia had written, with her actually singing and playing the piano.

Tekelia’s past professional performances have included singing in plays, shows, theatres, on television and record albums, for special events and occasions, and in pageants where she won Miss Black Chattanooga 1978.  She also has performed at famous music venues such as Libertyland Theme Park, headlining as a “Showstopper” at Handy Theatre, Beale Street, the World’s Fair, National Civil Rights Museum, Martin Luther Commemorative Ceremony at Mason Temple; and with music celebrities such as Jennifer Holiday, Mavis Staples, Patti Austin, and O'landar Draper, to name a few.

Downtown Chattanooga (First Tennessee Pavilion) 2011Relay for Life Chattanooga-
Saturday, May 21 - Sunday, May 22 2011 at First TN Pavillion

Stay tuned for more details about the schedule for the night.

Be sure to send an Invitation to the Cancer Survivors and Caregivers you know to invite them to come to your Relay Celebration!