Shirley Max Kelley, 83, of Cullman passed away Friday, May 18, 2018 at Cullman Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Kelley was born March 4, 1935 in Athens, Alabama to Mr. And Mrs. S.E. Kelley. Mr. Kelley was a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Baldwin Church of Christ.
Max was a standout baseball and football player at both Athens and Cullman High Schools and went on to letter in both sports at the University of Alabama. He is a member of the Limestone County, Madison County, and Cullman County Halls of Fame and is honored by having his hand and footprints enshrined at the Denny Chimes Walk of Fame.
Declining opportunities to play both football and baseball professionally led Max to begin a teaching and coaching career that spanned almost three decades, beginning in Dothan, Alabama, but with the majority serving the Huntsville City School System.
He was preceded in death by a wife, Nancy Ruth Kelley; a son, Steven Moore Kelley; a daughter, Pamela Lynn Kelley Gray, and a sister, Nancy Kelley Styles.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Judy Kelley; a brother, Les Kelley; and a sister, JoAnna Kelley Vanderkolk. He is also survived by granddaughters, Lauren Elizabeth Gray and Katherine Gray Hampton (husband Matthew and stepson Braydon Hampton); and numerous nieces, nephews, and stepgrandchildren.
Visitation will be held Sunday, May 20, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home, with funeral services immediately following. Burial will be at Valhalla Memory Gardens in Huntsville.
Pallbearers will be Dan Styles (Garrett Styles presiding), Drew Styles (William Max Styles presiding), Bryan Styles (Carson Styles presiding), Tom Runnion (Walker Styles presiding), Clay Styles (Wyatt Styles presiding), Chris Gibbs (Connor Gibbs presiding), Stephen Tanner, and Brandon Tanner.
