William "Bill" Kelly

1957 - 2025

KELLY, Jr., William "Bill" Watkins

Bill Kelly never took for granted what mattered most in his life and what he was blessed to have: a loving family and, later in life, the rewards of service.

William Watkins Kelly, Jr., 67, died January 14, 2025, in Atlanta. Born December 19, 1957, in Denver, Colorado, he was a son of William Watkins Kelly and Jane Kelly Kelly. His father's career took the family to university towns across the country before settling in Virginia, where Bill ran cross country as a student at Woodberry Forest School before graduating from Washington and Lee University.

As a young accountant in Richmond, VA, Bill jogged around his neighborhood after work, often cooling off afterward in the pool of his condo. There, he noticed a young woman swimming laps, decked out in bathing cap and goggles. An introvert, Bill summoned his courage and strategically positioned himself at one end of the pool next to her lane. As she paused to turn around, he flashed her a big smile and called out, "Hello!" Her name was Cathie Grier, and luckily, she was an extrovert, allowing them to quickly discover similarities in their backgrounds and interests.

They married in 1987. Bill loved holding hands with Cathie, and throughout their 38 years together, he never failed to kiss her good morning and good night. The secret of their happy marriage, Cathie said, was the solid foundation created by being "really good friends."

Bill's career as a CPA in banking took them to Raleigh, NC, where they became the parents of two sons, Thomas and Stuart; and then to Atlanta, their home for the past 22 years. As his sons grew up, Bill made sure they not only listened to classic rock on the preset radio stations in his car, but also watched essential classic movies and television shows – i.e., every Star Wars and Indiana Jones movie, along with episodes of Planet of the Apes, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke. Outdoors, though, was where he thrived, guiding them through adventures in camping, hiking, fishing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and white water rafting.

Many of those adventures happened during the family's annual summer week at Kanuga in the North Carolina mountains, the highlight of their year for two decades and the source of lifelong friendships. Bill took a woodcarving workshop there each summer, just for fun.

Bill loved Maker's Mark Bourbon Chocolates (he often could not stop at one) and Brooks Brothers shirts (actually, anything with a Brooks Brothers label). More that those, he loved vacations with his family at Vero Beach, Florida and Wrightsville Beach, NC, especially walks along the shore with Cathie, swimming in the ocean (he'd be the first to grab boogie boards or urge rounds of body surfing with his sons), and most of all, toasting the day with gin and tonics at sunset. He loved history and travel.

After retiring from banking in 2021, Bill continued to rise at 6:30 AM to volunteer for The Cathedral of St. Philip, where he was a member for many years, as well as Rotary, Club RCA (Respite Care Atlanta), Atlanta Botanical Garden, and Open Hand.

Bill attended a morning Bible study led by the Dean of St. Philip's. Participation in the church's annual Homeless Requiem, a service honoring by name those who died on the streets of Atlanta over the previous year, brought meaning to Bill's life. As the organizer of Emma's Closet, he devoted hours to sorting donated items and felt a great sense of reward on the day of the event, seeing both the joy on individual faces as attendees selected winter coats and an empty closet at the end of the evening.

Perhaps Bill's greatest legacy is the lessons his sons absorbed through his love and devotion to them. He always answered their phone calls on the first ring. He consoled them in their defeats and celebrated their accomplishments, no matter how small. He taught them to never judge a person because you can't know what's happening in someone else's life. Everyone struggles at times, he told them. Assume they're having a bad day and ask yourself, what can I do to make it better?

In addition to Cathie and his two sons, Thomas Evans Kelly and Stuart Grier Kelly, both of Raleigh, Bill is survived by his three brothers, Robert Jackson Kelly of Miami, Blair Massey Kelly (Laurie) of Charlottesville, VA, and Gregory Clark Kelly (Anne) of Atlanta; and 16 nieces and nephews.

A service of celebration for Bill's life will be held Monday, January 27, 2025, at 2 PM, at The Cathedral of St. Philip in Buckhead. Visitation in Child Hall will follow. A gift in Bill's memory may be made to The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305, or cathedralATL.org.