First, it is my intention to give credit where credit is due, so I would like to offer my thanks and sincere appreciation to all of the people who have helped me with my confederate website projects. I apologize for any omissions that occur and will correct that error if it is called to my attention. My e-mail address is eagle6@apex.net. This page also includes the resources that I have used, both literary and internet, in the website construction phase over the past eight years.

       My maternal grandfather and grandson of Benjamin Dekalb Kelley and Samuel Alexander Reed. Thank you for educating me in the Kelley family history and their service in the War Between the States, for my first trip to the Annual Kelley Family Reunion in August of 1976, a rare portrait of Benjamin D. Kelley in his homespun confederate uniform that started all of this, for your patience and understanding with a certain grandson, and just for being an old-fashioned, storybook pa-paw. The picture above is of Forrest Kelley (left) and myself, Richard B. Davis, with the grave of his great grandfather, John Kelley, that we made together in August of 1975.

      Gilder was my third cousin, a USMC World War II veteran, grandson of Benjamin D. Kelley, Kelley family patriarch, founder of the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department, adopted grandfather of my oldest son Josh, and was the leader of the Kelley Clan up until his death in 1995. He, along with his sister Ozema, made the Annual Kelley Family Reunion the success it is today. The New Kelley Cemetery near Eldridge Baptist Church in Eldridge, Alabama, now has a new marquee that is dedicated to the memory of Gilder and is pictured below. Thanks for everything Gilder, we all miss you!!!

      Ozema is also my third cousin, retired school teacher, brother of Gilder Kelley, grandaughter of Benjamin D. Kelley, and family historian. There is no way that I can begin to say how I really feel about Ozema and what she has meant to me every since long ago when I was 12 years old and went to her house and asked what seemed like a thousand questions about my ancestors. She was patient, as most people of her caliber are, and answered everyone single one that I asked. In 1991, she entrusted me with some priceless family photos so that I could have copies made. She also gave me a piece of John Kelley's original stone tanning table, a piece of cloth that was made by Roxannah Kelley, a piece of a rock from Traveller's Rest (Kelley's Crossroads), and copies of her original "The Family Record of John and Martha Ann Kelley" that she somehow found time to research from October 1966 thru August 1973, which is the first piece of research that I collected. Ozema, this webpage is my effort to continue what you started by now sharing our proud confederate family history with the world. Thank you for sharing it with me!!

      Another third cousin, Jerry undertook the next evolutionary step for the Kelley family history by compiling a book entitled "The Kelley Heritage" and had it published just after the 50th Kelley Reunion in August of 1989. It has an up-to-1989 listing of all known family members in a "family tree" format. This book was used extensively for this website. Jerry recently passed away after a long illness and he will be missed very much.

      I met Marlitta Perkins through the internet while I was struggling to learn the ways of HTML and the World Wide Web. Marlitta has her own website, the 14th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry Regiment, USA, and is a member of a reenactment group that shares the same name. Through e-mail and ICQ Chat, Marlitta has offered constructive criticism where it has been needed, gave me leads on information concerning the 4th Alabama Cavalry (Roddey's) Regiment, CSA, and offered encouragement when things seem to drag. Even though she has yankee website, she does have confederate veterans in her family as well so she is not all bad. Thanks Obiwon for everything!!

      Thanks to my two sons, Joshua Tyler and Jason Alexander Davis, who are pictured above with the grave marker of John Kelley in the Old Kelley/Tucker Cemetery, during the 59th Annual Kelley Family Reunion on August 8, 1998, at Eldridge, Alabama. They have supported me during the long nights at the computer trying to learn how to construct webpages, went with me to the Annual Kelley Reunion, helped me at cemeteries in 102 degree heat, and let me chat with Marlitta on ICQ when I should have been out in the yard playing basketball, soccer, trucks, tractors, Tee Ball, or any one of a thousand activities that a 7 and a 3 year-old can think up to do. This page is my legacy for Josh and Alex so they, and their children, will never forget what their Great Great Great Grandfather and Uncles did during the War Between the States and what sacrifice really means.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page