She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Corinthian Baptist Church.  To this day, Kay continued her walk with God under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Andre Jermaine Lewis at New Faith Church in Houston, Texas.

Throughout her life, Kay served as a trailblazer in everything she did. She began her career in the United States House of Representatives Longworth Building in Washington D.C. in the Publication and Distribution Services Department.  After her time in Washington D.C., Kay returned home to Mount Vernon, Illinois and embarked on a new career as a Teacher’s Assistant with the Head Start Program, where she remained employed until her retirement.

The love and care she gave to children was not only her biggest accomplishment, but also her foremost calling.  This was evident with her own family as Kay was her family’s matriarch. She was a proud mother of two sons, Kip Woodgett and Corey Woodgett, and grandmother of five, Taylor Woodgett, Cameron Woodgett, Damarius Woodgett, Laylah Jordan, and Charlotte Woodgett.  With her sons, Kay instilled in them the importance of keeping God first and helped to inspire them to work hard in order to reach their fullest potential.  She traveled all over the world to be with her sons and took great pride in their accomplishments.  Her purest joy came from her role as grandmother to her grandchildren, who affectionately called her “Grandma Kay-Kay.”  Kay was also described by many as “my oldest and dearest friend,” and she was loved and respected by all who had the pleasure to know her.

Kay was preceded in death by her: father, Belton Caldwell, Sr.; mother, Ida Jean (Bass) Caldwell; brother, Samuel Caldwell; brother, Belton Caldwell, Jr; Patricia Caldwell (sister-in-law); and Donald Thompson (brother-in-law).