Rev John E. Kelly

Rev. John E. Kelly, age 86, resident of Cleveland, TN, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday morning, March 30, 2010. He was a retired minister with the Church of God having pastored churches in Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, South Carolina and Kentucky. He began his training in ministry at Bible Training School in Sevierville, TN and later he graduated from Lee College. He also retired from teaching having taught school at Pleasant Grove School in Dalton, GA and Eton Elementary School in Eton, GA. He was a veteran of the United States Army Air Corps. He was known as a prayer warrior and for over 20 years he would awake at 6 a.m. to begin his day in prayer. He was a member of the North Cleveland Church of God. He was preceded in death by 5 sisters and his parents, John Edward Kelly, Sr. and Mary Mae Howell Kelly.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Lucille Lee Kelly; one son, Timothy Chip Kelly; three daughters, Rebecca Wayne and Judith Toland and husband John all of Cleveland and Miriam Pietkiewicz and husband Bill of Shelbyville, TN; one sister, Frances Bennett, Mobile, AL and 7 grandchildren, Nathan Wayne and Stephen Wayne, III, Lindsay Madison, Spencer Toland and Elise Toland, Kelly Dean Pietkiewicz and Micky Pietkiewicz and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of the Life and Home Going of Rev. John E. Kelly will be held Friday, April 2, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at North Cleveland Church of God Chapel with Pastor Mitch Maloney and Dr. F. J. May officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Honorary pallbearers will be the Church of God Retired Ministers.

The family requests memorials be made to the North Cleveland Church of God Retired Ministers and Widows Fund.

The family will receive friends Thursday, April 1, 2010, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday one hour prior to the service at the North Cleveland Church of God Chapel.

Arrangements by Grissom Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.grissomfh.net