Obituaries

of

Tipton County, TN

~ K ~

KELLEY, ALBERT ALONZO, JR. - Jan. 31, 1913 - Feb. 4, 2004 - Albert A. Kelley of Covington died at his residence.  Mr. Kelley, 91, was a retired principal from Holmes School for 27 years, and taught for the Tipton County School System for 36 years.  He graduated from Union University in Jackson in 1935.  He held many positions in the county such as director of Tipton County Farm Bureau, chairman of the Tipton County Historical Society, served in the Tipton County Court for 24 years and the Tipton County Election Commission.  Kelley was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1972-1974.  He received the distinguished service award from Union University Alumni Association in 1981 and the service award from the Tipton County Republican Party. A member of Garland Baptist Church, he was Sunday school superintendent for 25 years, taught the Men’s Bible Class and was the chairman of the board of deacons for 25 years.  Services were Feb. 7 at Garland Baptist Church with Rev. Jim Whitley and Dr. David Price officiating.  Burial was in Shiloh Cemetery.  Maley-Yarbrough Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.  Survivors include his spouse, Aileen White Kelley; a daughter, Theta K. Rone of Covington; a brother, Bill Kelley of Burlison; two sisters, Alma Patterson of Covington and Jeanette Seaton of West Memphis, Ark.; two grandchildren, Stephen K. Rone and Deanna Nabors; and five great-grandchildren.  The family requests memorials be sent to Albert Kelley Scholarship Fund at Union University, Union Advancement Office, 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, Tennessee 38305 or Shiloh Cemetery.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Laura E. Luttrell Kelley.

(The Covington Leader - Feb. 11, 2004) (Submitted by Susan Krall and Leslie Roane)

KELLEY, ALBERT ALONZO, SR. - Squire A. A. Kelley Is Leukemia Victim - Covington Magistrate III Only Two Weeks

Squire Albert Alonzo Kelley, for 20 years, a magistrate at Covington, died yesterday afternoon at his home, a victim of Leukemia, a disease which has claimed comparatively few victims in this section.  He had been critically ill for two weeks.  He was 57.  Squire Kelley had spent his entire life in the Covington section.  He taught school there for several years and at one time was principal.  He gave up teaching when he assumed his magisterial duties two decades ago.  For the past few years he had engaged, too, in fairly extensive farming.  He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Laura Luttrell Kelley, and 10 children.  They are: Bruce Kelley, Mrs. Mary Sue Brewster and Miss Amy Kelley of Memphis, and Reese, Albert, John and Billy Kelley of Covington, and Misses Alma, Frances and Jeanette Kelley of Covington. The funeral will be held at Covington this afternoon at 3 o’clock.  Burial will be in Shiloh Cemetery.  Squire Kelley was at Methodist Hospital for a few days during the early period of his illness but when informed that there was little chance of his recovery he asked to be taken home that he could be with his family.  Leukemia is characterized by derangement of the blood-making organs and according to physicians recoveries are rare.

(Newspaper Unknown, August 1, 1935) (Submitted by Susan Krall and Leslie Roane)

KELLEY, BILLY SUNDAY - Sept. 10, 1923 - April 5, 2004 - Bill S. Kelley of Burlison died at his residence.  Mr. Kelley, 80, was a retired farmer and avid sportsman.  He was a master Mason at the Dunham Lodge No. 150, served two terms as a magistrate on the Tipton County Court, and served on the board of directors for Tipton County Farm Bureau and Tipton County Farmers Cooperative.  He attended Memphis State University on a Football Scholarship and was a Merchant Marine during World War II.  He was a member of Garland United Methodist Church.  Services were April 7 at Maley-Yarbrough Funeral Home with Rev. Granvil Morgan and Bill Face officiating.  Burial was in Shiloh Cemetery.  Survivors include his spouse of 59 years, Ruth Roe Kelley; two sons, Richard Kelley and Clay Kelley of Burlison; two sisters, Alma Patterson of Burlison and Jeanette Graham Seaton of West Memphis, Ark.; four grandchildren and three-great-grandchildren.  The family requests that memorials be sent to Garland United Methodist Church or Shiloh Cemetery Fund.

(The Covington Leader - April 7, 2004) (Submitted by Susan Krall and Leslie Roane)

KELLEY, BROOKS - The death angel has again visited the home of one who is very dear to Herald readers because of their relationship to us in the Lord’s work. Little Brooks Kelly, the twin son of Brother Albert Alonzo and Sister Laura Ellen Kelley.

(The Harold Banner church newsletter some time around Oct 15, 1906.   He was just 3 years old and died of Diphtheria.)

(Submitted by Susan Krall and Leslie Roane)

KELLEY, ESTHER BOOTH - Esther Booth Kelley, 98 of Memphis, homemaker died Saturday at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.  Services will be at 10 A.M. Tuesday at Forest Hill Funeral Home East with burial in Forest Hill Cemetery East.  She was a member of Bellevue Baptist Church and former member of First United Methodist Church, where she was a children’s Sunday School Teacher.  Mrs. Kelley, the widow of Bruce Kelley, leaves a daughter Annie Laura Jones of Weatherford, Texas; a son, Bruce Kelley Jr. of Memphis, nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren.  The family requests that memorials be sent to the Bellevue Baptist Church Love Worth Finding Program.

(The Commercial Appeal - Sunday, August 10, 2003) (Submitted by Susan Krall and Leslie Roane)      

KELLEY, LAURA ELLEN LUTTRELL - Mrs. Laura Ellen (Luttrell) Kelley, 93, housewife and widow of Albert Alonzo Kelley, died Saturday morning at Covington Nursing Home following a long illness.  She was born in Tipton County on Nov. 8, 1879, to Mark and Amanda (Shankle) Luttrell.  Rev. Harold Greer conducted funeral services at 4p.m. Sunday at Kelley’s Chapel Church where Mrs. Kelley was a member.  Interment was in Shiloh Cemetery with Maley Funeral Home Inc. in charge of arrangements. Survivors include four sons, Bruce Kelley of Memphis, Bill Kelley of Burlison, Reese Kelley and State Representative Albert Kelley, both of Covington; four daughters, Mrs. Mary C. Knoll of Baltimore Maryland, Mrs. Alma Patterson and Frances Turner of Burlison and Mrs. Jeanette Graham of West Memphis, Ark.: two brothers Silas Mack and James Lafayette Luttrell, both of Garland; 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

(The Covington Leader - September 21, 1973) (Submitted by Susan Krall and Leslie Roane)

KELLEY, MARY EVELYN McFALL - July 14,1917 - Jan. 6, 2001 -  Services for Mary Evelyn McFall Kelley of Covington were Wednesday afternoon in the chapel of  Maley-Yarbrough Funeral Home Inc.  of Covington with Rev. Carlton Rose officiating.  Burial was in Shiloh Cemetery, near Covington.  Mrs. Kelley, the widow of Reese Kelley, died in Osceola Regional Hospital in Kissimmee, Fl., of congested heart failure.  Born in Rockport, In., she was a daughter of the late P. H. and Lydia Horton McFall.  She attended Luttrell Bible College in Evansville, In.  She founded the Crossroads Church of the Nazarene Church.   Mrs. Kelley was given the honor to name Rose of Sharon Campground, near Covington.  She hosted Mary’s Chat Line, a Christian talk show, on WKBL radio in Covington.  Survivors include two daughters, Mary Diane Kelley Riggle of St Cloud, Fl., and Martha Reese Kelley Locke of Covington: a brother Charles McFall of Dundee, Fl.: a sister, Olive McFall Springer of East Lansing, Mi,: and three grandchildren, David Reese Riggle, Tiffany Carr Holland and George Thomas Holland.  The family requests any memorials be sent to the Tipton County Public Library, 300 West Church Avenue, Covington Tn. 38019.

(The Covington Leader, January 10, 2001)  (Submitted by Susan Krall and Leslie Roane)

KELLEY, REESE - Nov.27,1904-Dec. 5.1985 - A retired cattleman, Reese Kelley of Covington died Thursday evening in his home after a lengthy illness.  He was the husband of Mary E. Kelley and was a lifelong native of Tipton County, a son of the late Albert Alonzo and Laura Ellen Luttrell Kelley. Sunday afternoon services were held in the chapel of Maley-Yarbrough Funeral Home Inc. with Rev. Howard Jones conducting.  He was interred in Shiloh Cemetery.  In addition to his widow, he leaves two daughter, Mary Riggle of Kissimmee, Fl., and Martha Holland of Memphis, along with one grandchild, David Reese Riggle.  He also leaves three brothers, Albert and Bill Kelley of Garland and Bruce Kelley of Memphis, and four sisters, Jeanette Graham of West Memphis, Ark., Mary Sue Knoll of Baltimore, Md., and Frances Turner and Alma Patterson of Covington.

(The Covington Leader - Date Unknown) (Submitted by Susan Krall and Leslie Roane)

KELLEY, THEODOSIA AMANDA GLASS - Born 1/23/1861 - Died 3/14/1924 - Christian Woman Passes to Reward - Mrs. J. C. Kelley Buried Here Sunday Afternoon

The news of the death of Mrs. Theodosia Glass Kelley, wife of former Tax Assessor John Calvin Kelley, of this county, which occurred in the Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, Friday evening at 6 o’clock, after an illness of 10 days with heart trouble, was received by her many friends and relatives in this county with feelings of deep grief.

Mrs. Kelley, who for some years prior to her passing away had made her home in Portageville, Mo., was taken to the Baptist Memorial Hospital about 10 days before her death.  Reports from that place the middle of last week indicated that she was doing well and hopes were entertained for her final recovery, hence her relatives and friends in Tipton County were greatly shocked by the news of her death.

The deceased was a daughter of Mr. David Lauderdale Glass and Mrs. Matilda Jane Roe Glass, the former having passed away some years ago.  She was married to John Calvin Kelley, of this county 49 years ago in October last, and the couple expected to celebrate the golden anniversary of their wedding in October of the present year.  Of this union four sons and seven daughters with their father, survive her.  The sons are Albert, Paul, Grady. John Jr.: Mesdames W. F. Wilson, P. D., W. L. Murphy, Ernest Allen, Alfred Vaughan and Misses Nina and Helen Kelley.

Mrs. Kelley was born in the vicinity of Garland in January, 1861, and was consequently 63 years of age in January last.  She made her home in Covington for 18 years, moving here from the Garland vicinity, as stated above, and moved with her family to Portageville, Mo., seven years ago, where she had since continuously resided.  With her passing a most estimable and faithful Christian woman and a true wife and mother has gone  to the reward promised to the faithful. The remains were brought to Covington Sunday morning and were taken to the residence of Mr. R. S. Maley, where the funeral was held, the services being conducted by Rev. W. A. Freeman, assisted by Rev. W. P. Hamilton, both of the Methodist church, of which the deceased had been a consistent member practically all her life.

(Newspaper Unknown) (Submitted by Susan Krall and Leslie Roane)

KENNEDY - Mr. Kennedy, of Cholera (Randolph Recorder, Friday August 1, 1834)

KERR, M. W. - Mr. N. B. Portis received a telegram Tuesday night bringing information of the death of his brother-in-law, Mr. M. W. Kerr, at his home in McGee, Ark.  The remains were brought to Covington Wednesday night and the burial occurred in the Munford cemetery.  The deceased was a son of the late Miler Kerr and was born and reared in this county and was about 63 years of age at the time of his passing away.  His wife, who was Miss Emma Jones, of this vicinity, survives him, as do two sons and two daughters.  Mr. Kerr had been making his home in Helena and McGee, Ark. for about 15 years prior to his death.

(The Covington Leader, Thursday, October 11, 1917)

The funeral of Mr. M. W. Kerr, whose death occurred at his home in McGee, Ark., on Tuesday night of last week, occurred at the home of his brother-in-law, Mr. N. B. Portis, at 2 o'clock Thursday, the services being conducted by Rev. Robt. A. Clark, of the First Methodist church, after which the burial took place in Munford cemetery.  His wife and daughter, Miss Grace, and son, Mr. Wade Kerr, came over with the remains.

(The Covington Leader, Thursday, October 18, 1917)

KING, MILLIE - COVINGTON - Ms. Millie King died Sunday at Baptist Memorial Hospital- Tipton. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. John's Baptist Church with burial in Townsend Cemetery. Barlow Funeral Home has charge. Ms. King leaves three stepdaughters, Mrs. Ella Culbreath and Mrs. Ossie Culbreath, both of Covington, and Ms. Ethelrine Watkins of St. Louis; a stepson, Claude Watkins of Chicago, and several stepgrandchildren. (The Commercial Appeal - Friday, February 22, 1991)

KING, VIRGINIA MARIE GILLESPIE - Mrs. Virginia Marie Gillespie King, 67, of Memphis, formerly of Covington, died Saturday at Allenbrooke Health Care Center in Memphis after a long illness. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. today at Brownsville Funeral Home with burial in Brownsville Memorial Gardens. She was a member of Mt. Terrace Church of Christ. Mrs. King, the wife of Benjamin F. King, also leaves two sons, Marion O. King and Norman F. King, both of Memphis; two sisters, Mrs. Velma Stoneberger of Memphis and Mrs. Dorothy Smith of Michigan, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Monday, July 23, 1990)

KINNEY, THOMAS - Mr. Thomas Kinney, a former citizen of Atoka, died at his home at Henning at 4 o'clock Tuesday morning of consumption.  Mr. Kinney was a native of Obion county and was about twenty-four years of age at the time of his death.  He was formerly a section foreman with headquarters at Atoka, and was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at that place.  His remains were brought to this county Wednesday and were buried at Salem at 11 o'clock that morning with the honors of the Knights of Pythias fraternity.

(The Covington Leader, September 13, 1901)

KIRBY, FLORENCE - Florence Kirby, little daughter of Mr. A. P. Kirby, died at his home two and a half miles southwest of this place Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock, of scarlet fever, after an illness of only a few days, and her burial took place at the Mount Carmel Cemetery.  She lacked only a few months of being ten years of age at the time of her death.  The bereaved family have the sympathy of the community in their sad loss.

(The Covington Leader, September 13, 1901)

KITCHEN, LEVI M. - Mr. Levi M. Kitchen died at his home near Bride at 7 o'clock Sunday morning of dropsy.  He had been in poor health for quite a while, but was taken suddenly worse Saturday night and died at the hour stated above.  His burial occurred at Mt. Lebanon at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon.  The deceased was about 50 years of ages, was a member of the Primitive Baptist church, and was an excellent citizen.

(The Covington Leader, Thursday, April 18, 1918)

KIZER, JAMES - On Wednesday, James Kizer, aged 26. (Randolph Recorder, Saturday, July 5, 1834)

KNIGHT, JAMES - Mr. James Knight, of the 6th district, died Saturday night, after an acute illness affecting the kidneys.  He was about 45 years of age and a well known citizen.  He leaves a wife.

(The Covington Leader, Thursday, August 9, 1917)

KNOLL, MARY SUE KELLEY - Aug. 27, 1906 - June 17, 1996 - Mary Sue Kelley Knoll of Baltimore, MD., died in her residence following a lengthy illness.  Services were Wednesday morning in the Ambrose Funeral Home in Baltimore.  A daughter of A. A. and Laura Luttrell Kelley, she was a 1925 graduate of Byars-Hall High School and a retired employee of the Social Security Administration office in Baltimore.  The widow of Henry Knoll, she is survived by two brothers, Albert Kelley of Garland and Bill Kelley of Burlison; two sisters, Alma Patterson of Burlison and Jeanette Seaton of West Memphis, AR., and a number of nieces and nephews.

(Newspaper Unknown)  (Submitted by Susan Krall and Leslie Roane)

KOONCE, SAM L. - Sam L. Koonce, 56, retired truck driver for Morris Lumber Co. in Fayette County, died Thursday at his home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Maley-Yarbrough Funeral Home with burial in Grace Cemetery in Lauderdale County. He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church. Koonce, the husband of Sue Koonce, also leaves a daughter, Mrs. Susan Thomas, and two sons, Sammy Koonce and Stephen Koonce, all of Covington; a sister, Mrs. Martha Nell Mitchell, and a brother, Horace David Koonce, both of Ripley, and two grandsons.  (The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Friday, July 20, 1990)