Kelly Allen is originally from Alamance County, where she was raised in East Burlington and later made Haw River her home. She earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Alamance Community College. Kelly was married to her husband, Charles Allen, and together they lived in Haw River while raising their family.

Kelly previously worked as a nurse for more than four decades, serving local families in pediatric and allergy care. She worked at Burlington Pediatrics and in allergy services, including managing an allergy department. She was also the President of Haw River Museum for 15 years.

Kelly currently serves as Chairman of the Alamance County Board of Commissioners for North Carolina. She was appointed to the Board of Commissioners in 2024 and is serving her first term. Kelly previously served as Mayor of Haw River, where she was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, serving two terms. She was first elected to public office in 2009 as a write-in candidate