Mrs. Candas Lee Keele

Candas Lee Cleveland Keele, was born November 5, 1938, to the late Tempie Lou Greene Cleveland and Thomas Leon Cleveland, Sr., of Wartrace. On the morning of August 22, 2023, Candas gained her heavenly wings, surrounded by her family, at her son and daughter in law's residence, after a courageous 5 ½ year battle with cancer. Candas was Valedictorian of the Class of 1956, at Bedford County Training School in Shelbyville. She also attended Tennessee State University and worked in several capacities with the State of Tennessee for over fifteen years. She retired with the Bedford County School System as a Teachers Aid in 1996. She accepted Christ as her Personal Savior at an early age, and was a member of Wartrace St. Paul A.M.E. Church, and later Wartrace Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Candas was known to be a strong witness for Christ, actively taking on such duties as Sunday school teacher, choir member, and leadership roles. She continued her Christian Journey, when her health permitted, by attending church at Westbrooks Towers Senior Living in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Candas married the "Love of her Life", the late Carl Keele, Jr., on December 25, 1956, and to this union one son was born, Cedric Wendell Keele, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Candas was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters, Claudette Barrett and Kay Cleveland, and a brother, John Cleveland. She leaves to cherish her memory her son Cedric, and devoted daughter in law, Stephania Keele, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; granddaughters, Monica Keele, of Ft. Collins, Colorado, and Lauren Keel, of Cookeville, Tennessee; sisters, Beverly McGee Louis, of Chicago, Illinois, Yvonne McChristian (William), of Shelbyville, Tennessee, Cassandra Stoesser (John), of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Deborah King (John), of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Sara Settles (Calvin), of LaVergne, Tennessee; brothers, Thomas "TC" Cleveland, Jr., of Shelbyville, Prince Cleveland, of Chicago, Illinois, Lacy Cleveland, William "Bill" Cleveland, and Jerry Cleveland, all of Shelbyville, Tennessee; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends, who will all miss her dearly. Funeral services will be 1 PM Friday, August 25, 2023, at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel. Reverend William Hurd will officiate, with burial to follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. The family will receive visitors 12 noon until service time Friday at the funeral home. Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Mrs. Candas Lee Keele

November 5, 1938 - August 22, 2023