Rev. James Kelley, Jr. was born on February 27, 1953, in Swenson, Texas, the third of nine children born to James Kelley, Sr. and Arizona Woods Kelley. James attended Haynes High School until Integration, then he transferred to Spur High School. James excelled at football, track. At Spur High School, he won a track scholarship to Cisco Junior College. There he won a track scholarship to the University of Houston. While at the University he met and married Birdie Rather. To this union was born a set of twins, Raphael Antonio and Raphel Antoinette. James focus changed from athletics to The Arts. He loved Shakespeare, Keats, Robert Frost and the King James Version of the Bible. He received his B.A. degree in Education in 1980.
Rev. Kelley was pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church from 1988-1989. He returned to Houston to continue his work in the ministry. He was a member of New Faith Church.
After several serious bouts of illness, James was finally summoned home on Wednesday, December 26, 2018. He was preceded in death by his father, James Sr., his daughter, Raphel Walker, and sister, Gloria Kelley.
He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife of 42 years, Bridie Kelley of Missouri City, Texas; son Rev. Raphael Kelley of Humble, Texas; granddaughter, Jasmine Hill of Missouri City, Texas; mother, Mrs. Arizona Kelley of Harker Heights, Texas; brother, John Ray Kelley (Linda) of Albuquerque, NM; sisters, Helen Perry, Hattie Kelley, Doris Kelley all of Killeen, Texas, JoAnn Sanford and Sonya Kelley of Harker Heights, Texas, and Essie Washington of Houston, Texas; mother-in-law, Lola Rather of Center, Texas and a host of other family and friends.
Services were held Saturday, January 5, 2019, at New Faith Church in Houston, Texas.
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