Dr. James Padgett Kelly, Jr. passed away on August 29, 2024; he was a much-loved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, companion, and educator.
Dr. Kelly was born on July 27, 1945, in San Diego, California, while his father was stationed in the Navy. Dr. Kelly received his B.S., in 1967, and M.S., in 1970 from Middle Tennessee State University and his Ph.D. in 1975 from Mississippi State University.
He was a beloved member of the MTSU Biology faculty from 1991 until he retired in 2015. Dr. Kelly taught the non-majors Biology course, the old Zoology course, and Biology for Elementary Teachers. He also taught Biome Analysis during summers in the Florida Keys and spring breaks in Maui. The most enjoyable part of his job was working with pre-service teachers in the Biology for Elementary Teachers course. In 2007, MTSU established the J. Padgett Kelly Research Scholarship with funds, fittingly, from their recycling program.
Before being hired by MTSU, Dr. Kelly taught at Dickson High School, Bethel College and was the state director of conservation education in Tennessee, in which capacity he founded Project C.E.N.T.S. (Conservation Education Now for Tennessee Students) Dr. Kelly was co-director of the MTSU Center for Environmental Education (CEE). In his capacity, he presented numerous workshops for both teachers and students at schools across Tennessee, most notably with the assistance of a 68-footlong, inflatable humpback whale.
Over the years he gave over 250 whale presentations to more than 200,000 high school students. During his time at Project C.E.N.T.S. and the CEE, he presented workshops to more than 30,000 teachers. Dr. Kelly’s work with environmental education garnered him several local and national awards. He was a longtime enthusiastic member of the National Marine Educators Association. They awarded him the Outstanding Teacher Award in 2001, and he served on the Board of Directors from 2006 to 2009.
Padgett loved fried dill pickles, Diet Coke, and Jimmy Buffett and his family likes to picture him enjoying all three at the big Margaritaville in the sky. He especially loved his grandsons, who called him “Piddy”, spoiling them whenever he had the chance. His ready smile, twinkling eyes and strongly voiced political beliefs will be missed by everyone who ever had the pleasure of meeting him.
He is preceded in death by parents, James Padgett Kelly, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth “Diddy” Kelly. He is survived by his loving companion, Libby Nesbitt; daughter, Jennifer Kelly-Hall (Jeremy); grandsons, Henry and Oscar; sister, Eve Hamilton (Henry); nieces, Kelly Stevenson (Chike), Keri Boatner (Jeff), Kelsey Mullinicks (Tom); great nieces and nephews, Karleigh and Kenleigh Stevenson, Maddox and Jax Mullinicks, Elizabeth and Emily Boatner; Libby’s sons, Curtis Davidson and Ben Lankford; and Libby’s grandson, Edward Davidson.
His wishes were to be cremated, and no services planned at this time. https://taylorsince1909.com
Contributions in his honor may be made to the J. Padgett Kelly Research Scholarship fund by going online at www.mtsu.edu/give. Choose the amount you’d like to donate. Select “Other” from the drop-down menu, and you’ll be able to type J. Padgett Kelly Research Scholarship as your designated offering.
For more obituaries visit https://dicksoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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