Obituaries: James Maxwell Kelley, 1994, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: October 5, 1994 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American Former Mayor Succumbs Here Flags around Winnfield flew at half-mast this weekend as the city mourned the passing of two-term mayor, James Maxwell Kelley, who died September 29 at the age of 42. Kelley, and avid promoter of his hometown, believed in the future of Winnfield which he felt lies, in part, in its past, in its rich history steeped in the Louisiana politics of Huey and Earl Long. When first elected in 1982, Kelley was 30 and the youngest mayor in the state. Four years later, he would win reelection. He served as president of the Louisiana Municipal Association in 1988-89. Kelley did not seek reelection in 1990, instead announcing plans to spend more time with his young family, wife Becky and daughters Katie and Caroline, and to pursue his longtime dream of owning a retail business. He opened O'Kelley's Hardware on Highway 34 south, later relocating the business to the present Main Street site in a style befitting his drive for downtown revitalization. But politics was too exciting for the former mayor and in January qualifying, he announced his hat would be in the ring once again for the city's top post. He finished second March 26 in a four man race and set his sights on the April 30 runoff. Then disaster struck: he was diagnosed with cancer, the disease that would ultimately claim his life. Despite surgery and treatments, Kelly continued his campaign for mayor but in the general election, his boyhood friend Deano Thornton would be elected. "Max had given a lot to the city," said Thornton. "And he had a lot more to offer." The mayor attributed much of Kelley's success to his "down-home charisma which allowed him to relate to people across the board." Thornton said Kelley "modernized city government when he came to office in 1982. He realized that the few tax dollars coming in were not enough to provide the services we needed." A city sales tax now provides many of those services. Kelley's flair for promoting the city's rich heritage caught the attention of reporters from Atlanta to Los Angeles to New York and helped focus the national spotlight on Winnfield during the Huey P. Long Centennial in 1993, "The Year of the Kingfish." Perhaps his greatest "coup" came through his involvement in the effort which convinced Hollywood producers that they should move to rural north Louisiana in June 1989 to film a portion of the movie "Blaze" in the hometown of "Uncle Earl" Long. The NSU history major had a keen interest in both preserving and promoting the area's history. He was a member of the local Historic Society and played a key role in creating the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame and establishing the museum in the L & A depot. Over recent months, he had turned his energies towards efforts to save the historic Winnfield Hotel. His credits also include ongoing involvement with the Chamber of Commerce as well as activities with the Fair Board, Forest Festival, and Piney Hills Tourism Association. "When I first got back to town in 1982," says friend George Wyatt, "the first thing Max said to me was 'If you're going to live in this community you've got to give something back.' That's the way he was...always looking for ways to improve the community." He was a member of First Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School and was a choir member. "Max was raised Methodist but when he became Baptist he brought the same commitment to Christ from one church background to another," recalls his pastor, Dr. Calvin Phelps. "This says to me he was a Christian first, committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. He never backed up on his allegiance." At the October 1 funeral service, the church sanctuary was filled with friends and family who marked the "Celebration of Life of Max Kelley." (Separate article, same edition) Funeral services for James Maxwell Kelley were held October 1, 1994 at First Baptist Church with Dr. Calvin Phelps, Rev. Grayson Watson, and Rev. Craig James officiating. Burial was in the Garden of Memories Cemetery under the direction of Southern Funeral Home. Mr. Kelley, age 42, of Winnfield, died at 8:40 p.m. Thursday, September 29, 1994 at Winn Parish Medical Center. Mr. Kelley, former two term Mayor of Winnfield, was elected as Louisiana's youngest mayor in 1982 and reelected in 1986. He was owner-operator of O'Kelley's Hardware in downtown Winnfield. He was a president of the Louisiana Municipal Association in 1988 and 1989. He was a graduate of Winnfield Sr. High School, a graduate of National Aquatic School, and a graduate of Northwestern State University. He served as President of the Winnfield Historical Society, The Winn Chamber of Commerce, and was Co-Chairman of the Huey P. Long Centennial Celebration. Other memberships include the Alumni Board of NSU, KA Order, Winn Parish Fair Board, Winnfield Film Commission, Piney Hills Tourism Association, and the Louisiana Forest Festival Board. Kelley's honors include Outstanding Young Men of America in 1977, Jaycee of the Year in 1976 at Ferriday, La., Presidential Extension Award, 1977, Outstanding Young Man of Winn Parish, 1983, and Citizen of the Year Award, 1989. He was a member and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church. Mr. Kelley is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Shelton Kelley of Winnfield; two daughters, Katie Rebecca and Caroline Jean Kelley, both of Winnfield; one brother and sister in law, George Michael and Carol Kelley of Keithville, La.; two sisters, Markeita Kelley and Miriam Kelley Skains, both of Winnfield; father in law, James Leo Shelton of Winnfield; two brothers in law and their spouses, Steve and Gail Shelton and Dr. Mark and Jennifer Shelton, all of Winnfield; five nieces, Heather Kelley, Kelley Skains, Janis Kelley, and Hannah Shelton and Dorothy Ann Shelton; three nephews, James Kelley, Matthew Shelton, and Andrew Shelton. Mr. Kelley was preceded in death by his parents, James Howard Kelley and Florene Gaar Kelley. Pallbearers were Joe Collins, Archie Chandler, Tim Gaar, Brent Chandler, Rodney Shelton, George Wyatt, Kim Kelley, and Doug Allen. Honorary pallbearers were the Men's Adult "Skidrow" Sunday School Class from First Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Winnfield, and/or the "Max Kelley Downtown Winnfield Restoration Fund:, P. O. Box 868, Winnfield, LA, 71483.