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Condolences:
Kim marsh
Lori, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and your kind and gentle “Buster”will be remembered with Perpetual Masses and Prayers by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement as a member of the Graymoor Spiritual Union.
Semoria Morris Charles
Linda A Bader
Lori, Your Buster was indeed a Good Man , Loved His Family !!! He may now Rest in Peace and now with His two Daughter's and Family members from generation to generation....
Robin Young de Boer
Losing a spouse is an indescribable loss. May you find comfort in the shared memories, and may God’s love continue to guide you in the days ahead. You and your family are in our thought's and prayers.
Dearest Buster, you were a wonderful brother- in- law and uncle to our children. You never hesitated to lend a hand when needed not only to us but to the community. Your love for your family was strong and your faith in God even stronger. We love you and will truly miss you. Until we see you again 😇 Newsome family.
Mickey Claxton
I was glad I was able to see and talk with him at his house last spring. I have very fond memories of Buster coming up I was one of the cousins from Catherine (kitty) Brooks side.
Elizabeth Seagraves
Lori praying for you and your family
Charlene Landen
Billy Skipper
My heart goes out to the Kennedy family. Lori, Chris, Carla, and Rachel. I’m so sorry for your loss. Please know you’re in my thoughts during this incredibly difficult time. I hope you can find some comfort in the memories you shared and in the love surrounding you all.
B
Buster was such an amazing man. His kindness and love for helping others, was certainly unmatched. I looked up to him as a man and a father. He was there for me when my dad passed away suddenly. I will always be grateful for his mentorship, and grace he showed me. My son was lucky to have an amazing grandfather like Buster. He was an inspiration, his love was unconditional. Many will miss him and his legacy will live on. Love you Buster.
Kenneth and Patricia Dalton
Buster was a wonderful person and our honor to have known Buster. Buster enriched and mentored many of the youth at St. Michael and was respected by all who knew him. A man dedicated to his immediate family as well as his St. Michael families. May Buster rest in eternal peace.
Kim Kelly-Speranza
Dear Lori, Carla, Rachel, Mary & family. I am so sorry to hear about Buster’s passing this week. We felt so Blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know him when he joined us at Canopy Way. He will never be forgotten! Love, Kim
Marianne Crowley
Cynthia Benjamin
Ruth Wylie Darlington
Lori I am so sorry to hear that Buster passed away.
Deborah Wylie Thornton
Lori, so sorry for the passing of your husbandkeeping you and your family in my prayers.
Steve sayers
The Lendry Family
Kimberly Maimone
Buster lead with gentle guidance and pure love, and showed up every day with the heart of a servant. It’s genuinely our loss that he isn’t physically with us anymore. Sending all the love and hugs to his family.
Dennis Boerckel
I will miss him dearly he was a good man and friend.
Marian Phillips
Praying for the family. Im thankful to have worked with him as a non intructional employee with the Nassau County School system. He served as union president before I began working for school system. He had a lot of knowledge in bargaining our contract. Its because of Buster along with others who started our union that NESPA has remained a,strong respected union. Fernandina has lost another pillar of our community. Marian Phillips, President of NESPA
The Hempstead Family
Sending our condolences to the entire Kennedy Family. Special prayers for Lori and Buster. May God provide comfort and peace to all of us grieving. It was a blessing and honor to know Buster.
Anna & Chris Voss
You all are in our thoughts prayers! Buster was one of a kind! We were truly blessed to have known him!
Dianne Febles
I am saddened to read of Buster’s passing. A gentle, kind man, Buster was president of NESPA when I was president of NTA. Buster served the support personnel well and I valued his leadership skills. I have fond memories of working with Buster to strengthen our unions and to educate school board members on the importance of employees’ working conditions. My deepest sympathies to you, Lori.
David Althouse
Lori, Chris, Carla, and Rachel -Much love and prayers. I've reflected on how long I've known Buster and WOW...There are DEFINITELY some special memories there. Chris, you ARE one of THREE of my BROTHERS for life. I love you and your family and please know, my heart aches for you and ALL of your family. Much love, many prayers, and the blessings, grace, and mercy of our Lord, be with you all. -DA
Robert and Melinda Crawford
Lori, Our deepest condolences to you and your family.
Charles Lee "Buster" Kennedy
2026-01-02
Charles Lee “Buster” Kennedy, 82, of Fernandina Beach passed away Friday, January 2, 2026 at the Warner Center for Caring.
Buster was born in Macon, GA and was a son of the late Charles C. and Hazel Brooks Kennedy. After graduating from Sidney Lanier High School in Macon, he attended Middle Georgia College for a time. Buster began working in the building trade in and around Macon and continued to do so until moving to Fernandina Beach in 1977.
He was a partner in Kennedy and Campbell Construction for a few years and then went to work at Rayonier for about a decade. After time at Rayonier, Buster went back into Construction and was active in the area for many years. Among the subdivisions and projects he developed were Ocean Ridge, Eagan’s Bluff and Pirates Bay. After the real estate “bust” of 1988-1989 he went to work for the Nassau County School District and retired after 14 years of service in the Maintenance Department.
Buster will always be remembered as an active and devoted parishioner at St. Michael Catholic Church. He was a member of St. Michael’s Men’s Club and was heavily involved in “Urban Plunge”, a program allowed youth to work in different communities providing assistance and services where needed. Buster was also active with working with the youth at St Michael’s. He dearly loved working with those youth and it was truly a highlight of his service to the parish.
Buster loved fishing and fondly recalled all the times as a youngster and as an adult the times he spent fishing with his father. He also loved “fixing” things and could repair just about anything. He will always be remembered as being “Genuine” and with a big and loving heart. He quietly helped many people through the years of his life and was a humanitarian before it was a popular thing to do.
In addition to his parents, Buster was predeceased by a brother, Harry “Pony” Kennedy, a young daughter, Theresa Lee-Ann Kennedy and an adult daughter, Bailiegh Kennedy in 2023.
He leaves behind his wife, Lori Newsome Kennedy; three children, Robert Christopher Kennedy and his wife, Michele, Carlotta Kennedy Keane and her husband, Chris and Rachel Kennedy Davis; nine grandchildren, Coral (Damien), Braylen, Faith, Landon, Cameron, Marley, Maison, Deegan and Evalynn; one great grandchild, Easton as well as a large extended family of brothers and sisters in law and nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Thursday, January 8, 2026 at Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors from 5:00 until 7:00PM with a Rosary service beginning at 6:30 PM.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Michael Catholic Church on Friday, January 9, 2026 beginning at 11:00 AM with Fr. Eric Stelzer as celebrant.
Buster will be laid to rest at Bosque Bello Cemetery.
The family asks, rather than flowers, contributions be made in his memory to St. Michael Catholic Church or Community Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeast Florida.
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