Johnnie Marvin Kelly

MONETTA, SC- CMSGT. JOHNNIE MARVIN KELLY, US Air Force Retired, 83, beloved husband of Mary Jane Kelly, entered into rest Tuesday, December 17, 2013. CMSGT. Kelly was born in Columbia, SC, a son of the late Leroy and Lillian Lewis Kelly. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Richardson Kelly; three daughters, Cynthia K. Eastlake, Lillian Kelly, and April Kelly; four sons, Johnnie M. Kelly, Richard P. Kelly; James A. Kelly, and Christopher J. Boyd; a brother, Kenneth Kelly; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. CMSGT. Kelly proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for 25 years attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant E9. He served 3 tours of duty during the Vietnam War, 2 trips to Antarctica, traveled to dozens of foreign countries and was involved in combat documentation, motion and still photography and the Space Recovery Program. He was one of the first motion picture photographers for U.S. nuclear testing program and many of the films taken of nuclear detonation were documented by CMSGT. Kelly. After his military career, his lifelong entrepreneurial spirit took flight when he founded the Harvest Table Buffet in 1978 in Augusta, GA. The restaurant was his dream and has been in continuous family operation for over 35 years. 10 years later, in 1988, he founded The Buffet on University Parkway in Aiken. That restaurant was family owned and operated for over 20 years. CMSGT. Kelly enjoyed cooking and was known as the "Chief Master Griller." His other passions included riding 4 wheelers on his land, hiking, and spending time outdoors enjoying nature. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and businessman. A memorial service with military honors will be held Saturday, January 4th, at 12 PM in the Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Brad Willis officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, CMSGT Kelly would have wanted Memorial contributions to be directed to the charity of one's choice. SHELLHOUSE-RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 E. PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC Visit the online guest book at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Johnnie Marvin Kelly, please visit our flower store.