Kel Kelley

Elmer G. “Kel” Kelley, Jr., 60 of Douglasville went to be with the Lord on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. He was born June 30, 1947, in Anniston, Ala., but was a resident of the Douglasville area for 37 years. He graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1970 with a B.S. degree in Music and a minor in Economics and Military Science. He was a proud member of the JSU Marching Southerners where he played the trumpet and was very active in the JSU Alumni association throughout his life. He was deeply honored to be selected for the Alumnus of the Year award in 2006. God blessed Kel with many musical talents, and he used those talents when he began his career as a music teacher for South Cobb High School. He was extremely proud of his students and followed many of their accomplishments throughout his life. He was called to be a Music Minister and served in that capacity for 29 years at local churches including Trinity, Ephesus, Central Baptist and Austell First United Methodist. Kel was also a highly regarded businessman and was a successful insurance broker at Prudential for 23 years. Among his greatest honor was receiving the Connor Award in 2003 …#8220; the highest award attainable in the insurance industry in Georgia for outstanding service to the industry. In recent years, Kel was able to spend his time focused on things that brought him great joy. He enjoyed traveling to the Holy Land with Joanne and being baptized together in the Jordan River, and he loved his trips to New England visiting Rockport, Gloucester and Bar Harbor. He was an active member of his community through Leadership Douglas and United Way and became a charter member of a Men’s Bible Study in Douglasville. The friendships that grew out of the group were a great source of support and strength for Kel. He was also proud to be involved in a Douglasville Jail ministry program where he shared his music and faith with others. In addition, he focused more on his writing becoming a talented Christian music lyric writer as well as a Creative Writer for GhostNet Inc. where he enjoyed working with his son, Patrick, and daughter-in-law, Krista. During Kel’s transplant journey, he became aware of a great need for support for those going through similar experiences. As a result, he founded Tripleheart Inc. one of the top four Web sites for transplant support in the country. It was important for Kel to reach out to provide any help and support he could to others, and Tripleheart lead to many successful projects that continue to provide hope and guidance to transplant recipients and their families. Above all, Kel was a Godly man who lived his faith, and through that, was an inspiration to so many for his integrity, sincerity and spirit. He was an extremely devoted and loving Husband, Dad and Granddad each day of his life and the sound of his voice, laughter, and the true caring he felt for each of us will be profoundly missed. Kel is survived by his beloved wife of 23 years, Joanne Kelley; son and daughter-in-law, Patrick and Krista Kelley; son and daughter-in-law, Tommy and Stephanie Griffiths; and daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Phillip Underwood. He is also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer G. Kelley Sr.; two sisters, Beverly Moritz and Geneane Miller; six grandchildren: Hunter and Alan Griffiths, Nichole and Cheryl Matthews, Teresa and Matt Hardeman and Katie Underwood; and one great-grandchild, Caitlyn Hardeman. The service for Kel will be Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008, at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Douglasville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Georgia Transplant Foundation, c/o Patient Services, 3125 Presidential Parkway, Suite 280, Atlanta, Ga. 30340. Please indicate on any checks or correspondence that the donation is in memory of Kel Kelley.