Judith G. Graves Kiely

Judith Graves Kiely, age 87, died on Thursday November 12, 2015 in Atlanta. Judith was the daughter of Joseph E. and Edith Osborne Graves of Marblehead, Massachusetts. She married her high school sweetheart, William L. Kiely, Jr., with whom she raised five children. Mr. Kiely was the proprietor of the Royal Cigar Company, a landmark establishment located in downtown Atlanta. Her daughter, Kaedy Kiely, is a renowned Rock DJ, whose voice can be heard daily on Atlanta radio. Mrs. Kiely began her career as an educator for the Roman Catholic Church as a Sunday school teacher at Sacred Heart Church in Manchester, MA. Her great organizational and people skills, strong family values and action-based faith secured her a job as Director of Religious Education for the Parish of St. Lawrence Church when the family lived in Huntington, CT. After the Kiely family moved to Atlanta in 1970, Judith went to work for the Catholic Archdiocese, where she served four different parishes as Director of Religious Education, including Sacred Heart Church of downtown Atlanta, Holy Family of East Cobb, St. Paul of the Cross of Atlanta, and The Cathedral of Christ the King, where she felt privileged to serve in many capacities up until the present. In the late 1970's Mrs. Kiely confronted the issue of adolescent drug abuse, working tirelessly to help parents in the Atlanta community engage youth in non-judgmental parent-youth groups. An article of hers was published in "Atlanta Medicine: Bulletin of the Medical Association of Atlanta" in 1979, which spelled out effective, practical strategies for forming groups of concerned parents. Her influence grew as she spoke publicly at schools and various community organizations, and as she counseled countless concerned parents in person and by phone. She became a founding member of Unified Parents of America, Inc., and was recognized by Nancy Reagan at the White House for her achievements. After "retiring" from her career in Religious Education, she worked for a decade with the Technical College Directors Association. She became involved and served as President of Lifespan, an interfaith organization that responds to the needs of Senior Adults. She enjoyed her many cherished friends as an avid Bridge player and as a member of various organizations including Toastmasters, to which she belonged for over thirty years. Judith was a member of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution: Fort Peachtree Chapter, the National Society of Colonial Dames, the National Society of New England Women: Sarah Josepha Buell Hale Colony, the Towne Family Association and other patriotic organizations. She is survived by five children: William L. Kiely III, Joseph H. Kiely, G. Mark Kiely, Katherine E. Kiely, and Frank N. Kiely and their families, which include nine in-laws, ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Donations may be made in her memory to St Vincent de Paul of Atlanta by visiting: www.svdpatl.org Funeral Mass to be held November 17, 2015 10:30 o'clock in the morning at the Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Rd., NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30305.