Very quietly and peacefully on Sunday morning, November 2, 2025, feast of “All Souls Day” Our Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, gently closed the eyes of our beloved angel Kearline Dana Josephine McKellar-Jones, and she entered his eternal rest. To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven— Ecclesiastes 3:1
A Time to be Born
Kearline, in her 61st year was born on April 9, 1964, at Osteopathic Hospital, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kearline was one of 4 quadruplets, born to Johnnie and Denna McKellar. The first set of quadruplets born in Philadelphia in 1964. They were all girls; Katherine, Kathleen, Kearline and Kim. They were featured in the local newspaper, the Philadelphia Bulletin. She was educated in the Philadelphia Parochial School system starting at Saint Carthage elementary school, receiving her High School Diploma from West Philadelphia Catholic Girls’ High School and her Bachelor of Science from Chestnut Hill College. She loved to learn and grow her craft, earning a Doctorate of Law and a Masters of Jurisprudence focused on Health Law from Widener University, Delaware.
A Time to Love
She was joined in Holy Matrimony to Michael Worthy Jones on October 27, 1990. She was the mother to Denna and Andrew and raised her family in the Catholic faith.
She lived and breathed for Andrew and Denna. When she traveled for work, they traveled with her. She taught them the value of an education, by furthering her education. She taught them by example; she was mom first!
Kearline made her home in Newark, DE.
A Time to Plant
Kearline relished in her leadership ability but more importantly she loved being a mentor to up and coming women leaders. She taught many to be healthy and take care of themselves, a multitude to crochet, golf and exercise, and even more to build their own futures and businesses for themselves and their families alike; go back to school, get that degree, apply for that job, she would say, “why not you, you can do it”.
She was Senior Vice President, Government and External Affairs, General Manager Medicare, Medicaid and Chip where she received multiple awards and titles throughout her career such as Chair of the PA Dept. of Public Welfare Medical Assistance Advisory Committee, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary of Health Partners Corporate Compliance Committee, Co-Chair of State Regulatory Compliance Committee and Chair of Penna Women’s Campaign Fund. She was employed with Jefferson Health Plan until her retirement in June 2025.
She was an avid lover of traveling, self-help books, working out, RV’ing and Glamping. To her children, nieces, nephews and extended family her string beans and white potatoes at thanksgiving were delicious and legendary. Her happy place was the beach, especially Sea Isle City Beach, New Jersey. The place of her “She-Shed”, and inner peace was her beach home at Sun Resort-Sea Isle. If you ever visit, take an early morning stroll, look out at that sunrise on the beach, you’ll see her sitting in her chair watching the waves come in!
A mentee of hers wrote, “Kearline was an amazing mentor and leader. She’s my earliest memory of being defended and protected in a corporate space. That’s huge as a black woman, I remember her as the best example of leadership and motherhood, balancing both with such grace. Although I didn’t get to talk to her regularly, when we spoke, it was like no time had passed. She was an inspiration; I will miss her.”
She was founder of QE3 and McKellarDelancey Consulting and also founder and board member of the Because of Them Foundation.
A Time to Find
She spent time with her children, explaining the importance of faith, family, education, budgeting, and fun. She was our example and our constant. Kearline always made time for family—whether it was group axe-throwing, family finance and budget talks, or simply brunch at the local diner. She was the one we could go to for anything; she told the truth with love and guided us with grace. She was our foundation—lifting us up every day, providing for us, and keeping faith at the center of our home. Every Christmas, she’d make sure gifts were labeled from both Santa and Jesus, a small reminder of what truly mattered. And when Andrew’s school project was due the next morning, she was the one heading to Michael’s late at night and staying up to help him finish. She was a wonderful mom to not just her biological children, but whomever she came in contact with, her entire community.
She was THEE AUNTIE; watching Netflix with her nieces KK, Donna, Katie, Jocelyn, Jessica and Candice, she was part of our True Crime/ Eagles chat group.
Her nephews could call her at any time to review their resumes, get their budgets together, prepare for an interview or pep talk after they didn’t get the job. She was hiking with Keavin or checking out the Avengers with AJ, Eagles with Jimmy even though she lived in the Commanders household, they didn’t hold that against her😊
But she wasn’t above having hard conversations with anyone that she helped. She believed in, “It takes a village” at work and at play. We took plenty of family trips to plays, museums, vacations and 76ers basketball games. She was truly all of her children’s rock. She believed in and demanded excellence. Learning soars and everyone belongs at the table.
A Time to Weep
Kearline is survived by her children Denna and Andrew (Kierstin), Sharon, Mother-in-Law Barbara, and spouse, Michael.
Her nieces KK, Donna, Ashley, Elizabeth, Ryanne, Simone; nephews Keavin, AJ, Sean Steven, Kenny and Karl. A host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
She had one brother Johnnie Louis and four sisters, Kim, Jean, Rita and Helen that preceded her in death. She leaves behind four sisters; Katherine, Karen, Kathleen and Claudell and four brothers; Clarence, Keavin, Kenneith and Karl. Every morning at 6am Kearline had a special greeting for Katherine “Good Morning Sunshine 🌞” Kearline had a special relationship with her twin sister Katherine, “from the womb to the tomb we will be together forever”. ✨ ️ The relationship they shared was more than sisters, they had “TWIN” powers. They raised their families together, traveled together and will be together in spirit forever 💕
She’s also remembered by her sisterhood, (sisters from another mother) that were extremely important to her “girl trips and well-being”, Audrey, Monica, Jackie, Pati, Donna, PG, Tierra and Anita. Her nieces and nephews by another mother, her bonus kids; Jessica, Jocelyn, Katie, Jimmy, Jazmine, Gabrielle, Catina and Cailyn.
A Time to Die
Kearline Jones, 61, the beloved matriarch of the Jones family, transitioned on November 2, 2025, in the loving presence of her family, Michael, Denna, Andrew and Kiersten. Kearline’s greatest joy and achievement was her close-knit family.
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