Bernard Lee Kelly, 88 years old, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his Southwood home in Tallahassee, FL – around 1:40am on August 6, 2026. He was surrounded by his three daughters, all of whom had personally cared for him during his recent physical decline.
Bernard (most fondly known as Bert) was born October 7, 1937 in Tifton, Georgia. A descendant of Irish immigrants, he grew up visiting the Kelly family 150 acre farm in Grady County, just north of Whigham – where he quickly learned, and fell in love with, the value of simple country living. As a child, he was surrounded by the expansive, positive power of family: his mother died when he was just a boy; as a result, his extended relatives became more like parents and siblings. He grew up with cousins for playmates – and leaned on the support of aunts, uncles, and grandparents to shepherd his adolescence. The definitive loss of his mother in early childhood yielded his lifelong, unwavering commitment to his sisters and extended family.
His family moved to Tallahassee, Florida when he was a teenager, and he attended Leon High School (class of 1955). He went on to attend Florida State University before joining the US Air Force. Following in the footsteps of his father (who was a mail bus driver, then a Trailways bus
driver), Bert was inspired to establish a career in transportation – but found his true calling in the skies. While in the US Air Force (stationed in Laredo, Texas), he flew fighter jets and eventually served as a flight instructor; his call sign was Little Jug.
He began his career with Delta Airlines in 1965, commissioning his most beloved identity: Captain Bert Kelly. Throughout his 37 years with Delta, he took on many leadership roles – but he had particular pride in serving as captain of the L1011. As a Delta pilot, he cherished the opportunity to not just see the world, but share it. His loved ones consider themselves lucky to have traversed the globe in his company or in his honor. Though he touched down in, and took off from, too many locations to name… his favorite places on the planet were Ireland, the Colorado Rockies, and Florida’s Gulf Coast.
He retired from Delta in 1997 – and lived the next decades of his life traveling for pleasure, prioritizing quality time with family (especially his daughters and his grandchildren), and enjoying Tallahassee’s bounty of personal blessings (including all manner of FSU sports and his lake-facing front porch view). In his later years, despite the loss of his wife and an 18 year battle with cancer (multiple myeloma), Bert continued to seek out the best of the best. Bert appreciated the value of a good joke, a well-orchestrated surprise, and a simple breeze. He read the local newspaper religiously (his first job, after all, was delivering papers by bicycle in Donalsonville, GA as a boy). His heroes were Bobby Bowden, George Strait, and Jesus. His generosity was undeniable, his reliability was unmatched, and his heart was pure.
Bert’s faith as a Christian was his true north, punctuating every day he lived with reflection and intention. He was a man prone to preach – but his willingness to dole out wisdom was always balanced by an openness to consider another’s perspective. He modeled the art of genuine listening, and he welcomed healthy debate. Above all, though, he sought to understand his neighbor, practice unconditional love, and answer to his Maker alone.
Bert was preceded in death by his mother, Nancy Lorena Barber, in 1948; his father, Oscar Bernard Kelly, in 1977; and his wife, Wanda Reddick Kelly, in 2009. He is survived by his three daughters, Jennifer Kelly Martin, Lee Ann Kelly, and Alyssa Kelly; his sisters Patsy Cooper and Nancy Radford; and four grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church (2351 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee FL 32308) on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 1:00pm.
A Committal Service will be held at Friendship Cemetery (209 W 12th St, Donalsonville GA 39845) on Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 11:00am.
A memorial bench in his honor will be placed in his neighborhood, across from his home’s front porch view and at the lake’s edge, with this inscription: To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Aviation Foundation in Bert’s name. An avid attendee of the EAA’s annual Airventure in Oshkosh, Bert was previously honored there by his daughters – in a Brown Arch tribute brick, with this message: “In honor of Capt Bert Kelly: a remarkable pilot, a top-notch flight instructor, and the best father imaginable. Thank you for giving us wings, and teaching us the value of what it means to come home.” Please use the following link, or call 888-500-5600, to make a donation to EAA: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/apps/donations/donationform
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