Eugene Kelly Iii

Eugene Harrison Kelly, III was born on June 18,1940 to the union of the late Rev. Eugene H. Kelly, Jr. and Rev. Helen J. (Chick) Kelly in Hutchinson, Kansas. He was the oldest of two children and, because of his parents' pastoral responsibilities, their family relocated from Hutchinson to Wichita to Topeka, finally ending up in Kansas City, Missouri. Gene was a very smart individual. He attended Sumner High School, in Kansas City, and graduated with the Class of '58. While there, he was a member of the National Honor Society, the Speakers Bureau, and Student Council. His Senior Will said I, Eugene Kelly, bequeath the hope that Sumner will be a school which will practice tranquility among all races and schools in the years to come. His Speakers Bureau speech was entitled, I Speak for Democracy. Eugene was the winner for the school and took 2nd place in the city finials. During Eugene's school years, he often would spend time with his grandmother in Oxnard, California where he became acquainted with Leola (Miller) and Marcus Rickard. In 1971, Eugene moved to Columbus, Ohio as the National Field Director for the NAACP. Over the years, along with Otho Ray, Eva Ball, Helen Ware and others to name a few, Eugene set out to right the wrong across the state of Ohio and the country. He went on to attend The Ohio State University and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts and Science. Eugene introduced his self to Agatha Miller Hickson (younger sister of the aforementioned Leola) and her family at the grave site of her nephew James Miller saying he was representing the Miller family from the west coast. On October 26,1984, Eugene and Agatha became husband and wife and remained married until Agatha's death on February 9, 2016. Together, Eugene and Agatha lived from coast to coast, relocating between Ohio and California several times over the years. Eugene was employed by The Huntington National Bank and Safelite. Although he was brought up baptized in the Methodist church, he most often attended Baptist churches with Agatha, including Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Oxnard, and finally Trinity Baptist Church in Columbus. Eugene was called home to the Lord on January 5, 2017 at his residence in Columbus. He was 76. In addition to his beloved wife and parents, he was predeceased by his stepson, Ronald Hickson of Cincinnati, Ohio. Eugene is survived by his brother Travis Kelly of Oxnard, California; nieces, Autumn Kelly of Oxnard, and Ashley (Craig) Speed of Maryland; stepdaughter Denise Y. Hickson of Columbus, and stepdaughter-in-law Linda Hickson of Cincinnati; his loving grandchildren, Scott (Angela) Thompson, Stacy Hickson, Chad (Dr. Dawn) Hickson, Dr. Amber-Renee (Ellery) Lewis and Maximillian W. McClain; five great grandsons, two great granddaughters; one great-great grandson; aunt Samella Kelly; uncle Otis (Sharon) Kelly; and a host of other family and friends.