Sam Carroll Kelly

Sam Carroll Kelly, 92, passed away peacefully at home on his Jones County Farm on January 21, 2025. He was born on this same home place on January 25,1932.

Sam attended grade school at Griswoldville, where his mother was a beloved teacher. He graduated from Jones County High School at age 16 in 1948.

Through his younger years, Sam farmed side by side with his father on the land settled by their Irish ancestors in 1832. They grew cotton, peppers, corn, peaches, and harvested pecans from some of the first trees planted in the area. The watermelons they grew were taken into Macon where they were peddled off the back of his father’s truck. Sam went on to be a chicken farmer for a number of years and had a small herd of cows until his passing.  He embodied years of farming wisdom and possessed an instinctual knowledge of the natural world - whether about the weather, seasons, or animals. He just seemed to have some ‘insider’ information not possessed by most..

Aside from farming, Sam enjoyed a number of other careers. He worked with the USDA’s ASCS for ten years and was awarded the Man of Year in Soil and Water Conservation for the Piedmont Conservation District in 1977. He worked for his beloved Aunt Maggie and Uncle Ree at Kelly’s Groceries. He and his cousin Kay delivered groceries throughout the Cross Keys community.  Sam went on to build several houses and commercial properties in this neighborhood. He was also a school bus driver for Jones County, hauling children to and from school, to New York City, and on countless other excursions. To this day, his “kids” continue to share stories of riding with Mr. Sam. In his later years, he operated Kelly’s Food and Gas on Highway 49. He was there every morning before sunrise to start the coffee pot, looking forward to the daily interactions with those who visited his store.

Sam was a story-teller at heart - not of fiction, however. He kept the history of his family and others he knew and loved alive through the tales he told. Traditions and ‘roots’ were something he treasured. He carried on his family’s tradition of making sugar cane syrup every year for others to learn and enjoy. The stories told at these annual events are remembered by many.

He never met a stranger and disarmed people immediately with his good-natured smile and candor. One of the first questions he would ask anyone he met was ‘where are you from’ and then he enthusiastically listened to that person’s experiences of the world. He loved to learn about far away places and diverse cultures his entire life through talking to people and voraciously reading his books, newspapers, and magazines.

Sam was a man who loved his family.  He devotedly cared for his mother and father their entire lives.  He met his true partner in life at a local propane gas company, Judith (Judy) Barnes, and they were married in 1973. They built a wonderful life together until her death in 2010.  Sam was ever present at his young daughters’ ball games and other events as they grew up.  He retold stories of Karol’s expeditions in the North Georgia Mountains while attending Young Harris College. He flew to Wyoming to enjoy a cross country road trip with Lisa when her summer job at Grand Teton National Park came to an end. When Kristen wandered into Sam’s life, he became the father she never had, supporting her into college and law school. Kay, although his cousin by birth, was his sister in his heart. Sam was taken to see Kay the day she was born. She was lovingly there with him nearly every day as they aged and as his health declined. Sam also had deep love for the Blount Family with whom he grew up with and worked alongside over the years.

Sam had many other loves in his life - the story-telling of Charles Kuralt, the poems and life story of Byron Herbert Reece, RFD-TV, the Grand Ole Opry, stray animals (the uglier the better), antique tractors…but, you, his friends and family are really the ones he loved most.

Sam is predeceased by his parents Henry Grady Kelly and Myrtie Jones Kelly and his wife Judy Barnes Kelly as well as a number of beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.  He is survived by his daughters Karol Kelly, Lisa Kelly, and Kristen Quinton, his grandchildren Emma Kelly and Sam Kelly, and his cousin Kay Kelly.  He is further survived by a wonderful host of cousins who hold dear their memories of him.

The family would like to thank Mr. James, who has been his friend and right-hand man for many years.  They’d also like to thank those who provided care the last couple of years - Ms. Dorothy, Ms. Shirley, Ms. Domonique, and Ms. Tina as well as the therapists and medical professionals that visited him.  Finally, they thank Brightmoor Hospice, especially Emily, for the care and compassion shown to him in his last days.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 31 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Jones County Chapel of Hart’s Mortuary.  The funeral service will be held the following day on Saturday, February 1 at 4:00 p.m. at the W.E. Knox Civic Center in downtown Gray.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to Pitts Chapel UMC, 132 Pitts Chapel Rd, Macon, 31217 or Macon Area Habitat for Humanity, 690 Holt Avenue, Macon, 31204 in Sam’s memory.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s Jones County Chapel, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 307 Pecan Lane, Gray, GA 31032 has charge of the arrangements.

Pitts Chapel United Methodist Church
132 Pitts Chapel Road, Macon GA 31217

Macon Area Habitat for Humanity
690 Holt Avenue, Macon GA 31204