Thomas Jerome Kelly Jr.

COLUMBIA – Mr. Thomas Jerome Kelly, Jr., 53, of Columbia, died Friday, February 7, 2014, at his home. He was born May 13, 1960 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Thomas Jerome Kelly of North Carolina and Vivian Aleathia (Goff) Kelly of South Carolina.

Mr. Kelly attended Cleveland Heights High School and the University of Connecticut. He entered the United States Coast Guard in 1985, and retired after ten years of service. He received an associate’s degree from Midlands Technical College in Columbia. A member of the Richland Library team for almost 15 years, Mr. Kelly was Branch Support Assistant for the Library. He was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) in Columbia.

Mr. Kelly loved cooking on the grill, NASCAR, and the New England Patriots. He deeply loved sailing, and on almost any sunny weekend you would find him on Lake Murray on his boat No Logic. He was a longtime member of the Columbia Sailing Club and a vice commodore of the Lake Murray Yachting Association.

Mr. Kelly was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife of seven years, Debra Hamilton of Columbia; his children, Cynthia Hamilton of Columbia, Brandy and Paul Howe of Rogersville, MO, Sandra and Kyle Burgess of Columbia, Michael and Lucy Hamilton of Columbia; his grandchildren, Brittney Swope, Mahayla Bainter, Destinie Howe, Matthew Powell, Justin Powell, Bracey Hamilton; his great-grandchildren DaShaun and Davon Swope; his brother, Douglas Kelly; and by his beloved cousin Wihelmina Goff, who he thought of as a mother.

A Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Thomas Kelly will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at the Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) at 1512 Blanding Street in Columbia. The family will be receiving friends 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at the Columbia Sailing Club, 292 Shuler Road, Columbia.

Flowers may be sent to the Church of the Good Shepherd. Memorials can be made to the Columbia Sailing Club Youth Program, c/o Columbia Sailing Club, 292 Shuler Road, Columbia, SC 29212. Arrangements are being made through Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Irmo/St. Andrews Chapel.

the direction of Caughman-Harman Funeral Home - St. Andrew's Chapel, Columbia, SC.