Shirley Hay Kelley, age 77, wife of Eddie Dean Kelley, and a resident of Columbia, passed away Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at Maury Regional Medical Center.
Born on September 7, 1945, in Maury County, Shirley was the daughter of the late Hensley Petway Hay and the late Gertie Beard Hay.
She was a member of Fly Church of the Nazarene. She married Eddie Dean Kelley on August 15, 1970. Shirley was a 1963 graduate of Santa Fe High School and went to work for BellSouth as an electronic technician. During her time at BellSouth, she served as Vice President of the Communication Workers of America Union for ten years. She also served on the JTPA, representing organized labor.
After thirty years, she retired from BellSouth and went to work at Premier for fifteen years and is a retired member of the UAW. She volunteered to work election polls for Maury County Election Commission for over the past fourteen years. Shirley coached city league basketball and was very active in the Democratic Party. She was the one who held everyone together and loved her family very much.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, April (Paul) Watson, Ryan (Melissa) Kelley, stepdaughter, Stacey (Scott) Cohenour, God-son, Lee (Tabitha) Williams, brother, Milton (Janice) Hay, sisters in law, Martha Hay and Martha Lee Hay, grandchildren, James Ryan (Megan) Kelley, Kristin (Ryan Parker) Tears, Taylor (Camron) Hay, Makenzie (Tyler Woodard) Watson, Austyn (Lindsey) Kelley, Eric Cohenour, Sam Cohenour, Alicia Cohenour, Ricky Hardiman, and Austyn’s mom, Katina Hardiman, great-grandchildren, Hayden Kelley, Knox Kelley, Maverick Kelley, Wyatt Tears, Carter Hay, Leighton Kelley, Avery Tears, Saylor Hay, and several nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Mark Hay, Leslie Hay, JW Hay, Tom Hay, Clifton Hay, and stepson, Vinson Dean Kelley.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Heritage Funeral Home with James Lunsford, Michelle Lunsford, and Mike Redding officiating. Burial will follow in Adksion Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Sheeter, James Ryan Kelley, Austyn Kelley, Lee Williams, Kenny Hay, and Stephen Hay. Honorary pallbearers will include Dick & Neda Brickner, Randy & Salene Walters, Cliff & Sissy White, Pam Moore-Morrow, Jimmy & Debbie Turner, and members of Fly Church of the Nazarene.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or Adkison Cemetery, c/o Libby Luther, 2332 Arthur Hutcherson Road, Columbia, TN 38401.
A special thank you to the nursing staff on 3 West at Maury Regional Medical Center.
Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. https://www.tnfunerals.com
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