Dr. Robert Earl Kelley
WEST COLUMBIA — Services for Dr. Bob Kelley, 65, will be
held 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 1, 2006, at Grace Baptist Church.
Officiating will be Rev. Milton Ker and Dr. Charles Walker. Thompson
Funeral Home of Lexington will be handling the arrangements. Interment
will be 10 a.m. Thursday, November 2, 2006, in Lakewood Memory
Gardens, East, Chattanooga, TN. Turner Funeral Home will be handling
the arrangements in Tennessee. The family will receive friends
from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Church. Memorials may be made in
memory of Dr. Bob Kelley to the Dr. Bob Kelley Fund, Grace Baptist
Church, 416 Denham Ave., West Columbia, SC 29169.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15. Upon using every treasured moment that God had graciously granted him in laboring and pastoring for his Lord, loving and providing for his family, and living for and proclaiming his Savior, Dr. Robert Earl Kelley gained his entrance into heaven Saturday, October 28, 2006. Born in Rossville, GA, he was the son of the late Clarence Day Kelley and Daisy Lou Hall. Known to most as “Pastor Kelley” he spent the last 43 years preaching and pastoring in West Virginia, Tennessee, and in West Columbia, SC, where he recently retired as the pastor of Grace Baptist Church after 15 fruitful years of ministry. Pastor Kelley received many prestigious awards including The Order of the Palmetto and the Order of Palmetto Patriot.
Survived by his loving wife, April Allene Scott Kelley of West Columbia; daughters and sons-in-law, Rachel Star Kelley Bancroft and John Bancroft of West Columbia, Laura Dawn Kelley Phillips and Chris Phillips of Charleston, Sharon Daye Kelley Goforth and David Goforth of West Columbia; sisters, JoAnn Kelley Tillman and Betty Jewel Kelly Tate, both of Ooltewah, TN; brother, Kenneth “Buzz” Kelley of Hixon, TN. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, John Robert Bancroft, Nathaniel Scott Bancroft, Abby Kristine Phillips, April Lauren Phillips, Alyson Kate Phillips, Zachariah Thomas Phillips, Holly Daye Goforth, Kelley Daye Goforth, Bailey Daye Goforth, Chloe Daye Goforth and Amy Daye Goforth. Dr. Kelley was predeceased by his brother, Clarence Day Kelley, Jr.
We, his family, look forward to the day when our faith will become sight and we are united with Christ and reunited with our beloved “Pop.” Our prayer is that if you do not have the joy and peace of a personal relationship with Jesus, that today will be the day you turn from your sins and place your complete faith and trust in the finished work of Calvary. For by grace are ye saved through faith. Ephesias 2:8