Rev. Homer Dee Kelley

August 8, 1927 - April 27, 2012

Rev. Homer Dee Kelley, age 84, husband of Ann Kelley, and a well known Baptist Minister of Columbia passed away on Friday evening April 27, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held on Monday April 30, 2012 at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home with Brother Larry Tidwell, Keith Baker and Mike Roberts officiating. Interment will follow at Williamsport Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday April 29, 2012 from 3:00 – 8:00 PM and on Monday April 30, 2012 from noon until the time of service. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family and in charge of arrangements.

Homer was born in Hickman County in 1927 and was the son of the late Haut and Addie Dorton Kelley. As a child the family moved to Maury County and was involved in sharecropping with the families of the Water Valley Community. He did not know a stranger and loved his family and everybody.

Homer was ordained in 1957 by the Williamsport Baptist Church and retired after 38 years of ministry. He was a member of the Lasea Baptist Church and attended the Parkway Baptist Church. He never considered the ministry a position, but a calling. He was the pastor of several local churches including: Calvary Baptist Church, Williamsport Baptist Church, Santa Fe Baptist Church, and First Baptist in Spring Hill. Homer and his late wife Dolly always worked side by side in meeting the needs of their congregations. He served as president of the Belmont College Summer Preacher’s School. He served as chaplain for the City of Spring Hill and for the Maury County Civil Defense. He was also the Chaplain of Life Care in Columbia for several years during the illness of his first wife Dolly.

Homer was a whole lot of folks “preacher” in Maury County. In his later years when he would help out at Heritage Funeral Home; it was often times a reunion when folks came in. They would say things like; he was my preacher, he baptized me, he married us. He was known and loved by many in the Baptist circles. He preached to so many that they would often have to remind him of when he was their pastor & what their name was.

Up until the past year; Homer Kelly was an advocate for Heritage Funeral Home as he worked visitations & funerals.

Along with his wife Ann, he is survived by one daughter, Judy (Bobby) Parker of Columbia; one granddaughter, Victoria (Scottie) Chambers of Burns, TN; one grandson, Vaden Parker of Columbia; one step-daughter, Terri (Jeremy) Boshers; one step-son Jason (Amanda) Scott; one great granddaughter, Parker Lee Chambers of Burns, TN; one great grandson, Christian Cole Parker; four step-grandchildren: Elatio Anderson, Jennica Boshers, Summer Scott, and Payton Scott; and special friend Keith Baker.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his first wife Dolly Kelley; one daughter Nancy Lynn Kelley; two brothers: Claude Kelley and Vernon Kelley; and two sisters: Edna King and Gertrude Johnson.

Pallbearers will be Jason Scott, Lytle Wise, David Parker, Vaden Parker, Marvin Bailey, Ray Potts, Billy Potts, Larry Warren, Charles Kirkland and John Buchanan.

Honorary Pallbearers are the Staff of Heritage Funeral Home, members of the Maury Baptist Association, the staff of Hospice, the staff of Choices, and members of the Southern Baptist Association.

You may send condolences to the Kelley family at the Heritage Funeral Home website. www.TnFunerals.com