Mr. John Norman Kennedy

Mr. John Kennedy of Tampa, FL, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 3005 E. Ellicott Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610, with Pastor Adrian Deshon Reid, Sr., Officiating. Interment will be held on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513.

John Kennedy was born in Tampa, FL, on April 27, 1944, to Albert and Minnie Kennedy. He attended schools in Tampa, Florida, and graduated from Middleton High School in 1962. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1968.  He was converted at a young age and gradually became a Sunday School Teacher, teaching at each congregation he joined. He was a long-standing member of New Hope, where he devotedly served as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher.

Mr. Kennedy, a Certified Occupancy Specialist through the National Center for Housing Management (NCHM), dedicated 30 years to property management. His education included Michigan Tech University, Akron University, and NCHM. Throughout his career, he worked with the Tampa Housing Authority, Creative Choice Homes and Services-Taylor Made, and enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in the housing management industry.

He was a devoted husband to Rozelia LaFayette Kennedy for 44 years and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Minnie Kennedy and Albert Kennedy; and two brothers, Albert Kennedy and George Kennedy.

He leaves to cherish his memories: his beloved wife, Rozelia; sons, John Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy, Bakari Kennedy (Tiffany), Kolade Kennedy (Kimberly), and Femi John Kennedy (Charlotte);  grandchildren, Celina White, Kayonna Kennedy, Malaysia Kennedy, LeNitra Kennedy, Christoper Kennedy, Mathias Kennedy, Antonio Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy, Jr., Jacquelyn Kennedy, Angelina Kennedy, and Angelo Kennedy; his siblings, Brenda Williams (Earlie), Charles Kennedy (Kendra), Joseph Kennedy (Ana), Ernest Kennedy, and Mildred Huyghue and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 3005 E. Ellicott Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33610.

Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.

www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com

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