Peacefully passed away in Nashville TN on March 7, 2023. Wife of the late James Palmer Kelley, son of Everett Edward Kelley, MD and Mary Palmer Wade Kelley Sperry of Belle Meade, Nashville, TN. Later in life, Shirley enjoyed marriage to the late George Brownlee Boone of Cashiers, NC and Asheville, NC (Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Center).
Daughter of the late William Bruce Talbot, MD, and Jesse Lee Montague, Shirley was born in White Plains and raised in NYC spending her early childhood in Gramercy Park. Helen Brown, her step-mother ensured that she and her older sisters, the late Mary Jean Talbot Buck and Willhemina (Billie) Talbot Bowen were educated in deportment and social graces at The Plaza in NYC.
Shirley attended Southern Seminary in Buena Vista, VA and Simmons College in Boston, MA. A close cousin of Senator Claude Pepper (Mildred), Shirley spent many vacations in their company in FL, Washington, DC and at the Brown island cottage Lake Chaubunagungamaug in Webster, MA.
Descended from Peter Montague III (b.1634 Suffolk, VA), Shirley was involved in The National Society of Colonial Dames of America as the Chair of the Nashville Town Committee for Travellers Rest Plantation and Museum House, and served as NSCDA Our Lady of Dumbarton, Washington, DC. Memberships in The English Speaking Union, The Royal Oak Society, The Callaway Family Association and First Families of Tennessee rounded out her interest in museum house history and geneology.
Civic activities included The Junior League of Nashville, The Nashville Symphony Italian Street Fair, Cheekwood Museum House and Gardens, The Swan Ball, Hillmeade Garden Club, Centennial Club of Nashville. Shirley was devoted to St. Mary’s Sewanee and was a long term member of St. George's Episcopal Church, Nashville TN.
In 1964, ever the ladylike trailblazer, Shirley purchased Harpeth Gallery from her uncle, James Palmer “Buddy” Wade. HG became a fixture in Green Hills, Nashville in decorative furnishings, antiques, wedding and special gifts. An inveterate traveler, Shirley sought treasures for HG in Great Britain and Europe.
Shirley lived in Belle Meade in Nashville for 50 years, High Hampton in Cashiers NC, Chestnut Hill of Highlands NC, Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Center, Crowfields in Asheville, NC, and lastly, Brookdale Belle Meade and Blakeford Retirement Centers in Nashville, TN. The care and friendship from staff, hospice volunteers is greatly appreciated by the family.
Survived by daughter Mary Palmer Kelley Dargan (Hugh) of Camden SC and Cashiers, NC, Christopher Everett Kelley of Nashville, James Talbot Kelley (Sue Garey) and granddaughters, Patricia Freeman Kelley Crocker (Charles) of Nashville, TN and Virginia Criswell Kelley of Ft Lauderdale, FL.
Nieces and nephews include Craig Kelley Adkisson, Josephine Kelley Darwin (John), The late Alton Wade Kelley (Sheree), Jessie Palmer Kelley, Ed Kelley (Mandy) of Nashville, Phoebe Kelley Kruger (Stephen) of Jackson, MS, Laura Lee Bowen Simon of Ipswich, CT, Andrea Montague Bowen of Weld, ME and the late Gregory Bowen (Guynoir) of San Diego, CA, Stacey Buck-Walsh (Danny) of Sacramento, CA, Steven Buck (Michele) of GA , Byron Buck (Valerie) of Bend, OR, Bruce Buck of Phoenix, plus Bruce, Scott and Don Talbot scions of the late Bruce Talbot (Darleen) of Scotsdale, AZ.
Private family graveside services will be held at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.
A celebration of life will be held on April 28, 2023 at noon at Travellers Rest Plantation and Museum House located at 636 Farrell Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37220. Please contact Mount Olivet Funeral Home & Cemetery staff for questions regarding the celebration at (615)-255-4193.
Memorial donations welcome to St. Mary’s Sewanee 770 St. Mary’s Lane, POBOX 188, Sewanee, TN 37375
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared for the Kelley family at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn/shirley-kelley-11190013
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