James Frederick "Fred" Kelley Jr.

James Frederick Kelley, Jr. (Fred), a longtime resident of Hoover, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 12, 2024. He was born in Dothan, Alabama on April 11, 1946, to Rev. James F. Kelley, Sr. and Ruby Jean Phillips Kelley. Fred attended Newville School and Webb School; he also attended Houston County High School in Columbia, Alabama, where he played football and basketball. He graduated from Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama, where he played baseball and basketball. He also attended the University of Alabama, where he earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees. On June 3, 1967 he married Denise Mulligan in Mobile, Alabama. Fred served in the Navy and was stationed in Morocco, North Africa in 1971-72, and then continued serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve until his retirement in 1994.

Fred had a decades-long career as a mathematics educator, teaching at Samford University, Enterprise State Junior College, Jefferson State University, and Jacksonville State University, where he also served as department chair from 2008 to 2012. He was a very active and faithful member of Shades Crest Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher for many years. Fred also served as a deacon at Shades Crest several times and was awarded the honor of Lifetime Deacon in 2023.

Fred and his wife Denise served as missionaries to Morocco in the 1980s and 1990s, and over the years they made many additional trips there, often taking family members and friends with them to introduce them to the people and the culture they had grown to love so much. Fred was deeply curious about other people and places, and he loved having adventures; over the course of his life, he visited over 30 countries. He was also an avid handball enthusiast; his love of the sport allowed him to make many new friends over the years.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Ruby Jean Kelley. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Denise Mulligan Kelley; his daughter, Leanna Kelley Fuller, son-in-law Scott Fuller, and grandson Simon Fuller; his son, Jamey Kelley; his sisters, Linda DeVane and Marion Gresham; his brothers, Stephen Kelley, Tim Kelley, and Mark Kelley; his beloved uncle, Robert Kelley; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Family visitation will take place from 5:00 to 6:00 PM on Friday, August 16th in the fellowship hall of Shades Crest Baptist Church (452 Park Avenue, Hoover). Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 17th in the sanctuary of Shades Crest Baptist. Fred was a faithful contributor to the Building Fund at Shades Crest Baptist Church and would be honored if others would like to make donations to the fund in his memory.