Kelly, Paul DeWitt, Jr.

Longtime Lawyer Was Former City Attorney For Jasper

  • Saturday, November 16, 2013
Paul Kelly, Jr.
Paul Kelly, Jr.

Paul DeWitt Kelly, Jr. was born on September 16, 1927, in Jasper, Tennessee. His parents were Paul DeWitt Kelly, Sr. and Elizabeth Miller Kelly.

He was a descendant of Alexander Kelly, one of the founders of the state of Tennessee.

He graduated from Baylor School and Vanderbilt University and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Italy.

He earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School and practiced law in Jasper, in solo practice and with several partners. He formed Kelly and Kelly Attorneys at Law with his first cousin, Edwin Zachariah Kelly, and remained of counsel after his retirement.

He was a member and former president of the Marion County Bar Association. He was co-counsel of Tennessee Consolidated Coal Company.  He served on the board of directors of Marion Trust and Banking Company. He also served as city attorney for the town of Jasper.

He was on the board of directors of the Pioneer Bank in Chattanooga. He was a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He also served on the Board of Governors for the state of Tennessee. He was a member of the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society and was a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

He served on the board of directors of the Bethlehem Center and on the board of the Hosanna Community in Chattanooga.

He was a former member and Senior Warden of Christ Church Episcopal in South Pittsburg and later served as chancellor at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chattanooga. He was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd on Lookout Mountain.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Ferris Kelly; his children, Ferris Kelly Robinson and her husband, Dan Robinson; Elizabeth Kelly Kelley and her husband, Scott Kelley; Paul DeWitt Kelly III and his husband, Barry Gurin; and six grandchildren, Alex Nation, Paul Kelly Robinson, Mikey Robinson; Jake Kelley and his wife, Beth, and their children, Jordon and Zephy; Newell Kelley and his wife, Candace and their daughter, Ella; and Janie Kelley. He is also survived by his first cousin, Zach Kelly, and his wife, Elizabeth,

His family would like to thank Silver Leaf Home Care and Hospice of Chattanooga for their care and support during his final months of life. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Drive, Chattanooga, Tn. 37416, or the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC, 20090-6011 or Hosanna Community, P.O. Box 958, Hixson, Tn.  37343.

A private burial will be held at Forest Hills Cemetery on Monday and there will be a memorial service at the Church of the Good Shepherd at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, with a reception afterwards at Talbird Hall.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.rogersfuneralhome.com.

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