His memory will be everywhere, from the classic cars he helped restore to the behind-the-scenes organizing he did to make the annual Salvation Army Car Show a revved-up, shining success.
And no one will be more proud of that legacy of Jeff Kelley than grandson Matt Kelley. The younger family member will be the disc jockey at the event at 9 a.m. July 22 in the parking lot of Sandy Hook United Methodist Church, 1610 Taylor Road, Columbus. The gathering will be held in honor of the late Kelley.
Jeff became a key cog in the local ministry and nonprofit’s building of the car show to nearly 90 vehicles last year, if one counts unregistered cars and trucks, according to the grandson. Jeff Kelley died of cancer in November.
“Grandpa definitely wouldn’t want anyone to be sad at this (event),” Matt Kelly said.
In fact, as you can imagine, most of the grandson’s playlist cued up for the gathering is fun-in-the-sun car tunes, from the Beach Boys to the Beatles to, well, The Cars. Call it music with muscle (cars).
“It’ll be everything from the ’50s to the ’80,” the DJ said.
The grandson also will be displaying one of his grandpa’s favorite restored vehicles that included the late Kelley’s own upholstery work: a 1978 Chevy El Camino.
Proceeds, which normally have exclusively gone to the Salvation Army’s food pantry and financial assistance fund (sometimes referred to as the Christmas in July Fund), this year will be shared with the American Cancer Society as a salute to Jeff Kelley. Last year, funds totaled nearly $3,000, according to Nancy Johnson, the nonprofit’s director of social services.
She said her eyes fill with tears every year when the first vehicle pulls onto the Sandy Hook campus.
“That’s because I know then that God’s going to take care of what we need to take care of others,” Johnson said.
Johnson had never even been to a car show when she happened upon the fundraising idea. That’s why Jeff Kelly became so significant in the show’s growth.
“The Salvation Army helps so very many people in so many ways,” Kelley said in 2021 in a Republic interview. “And I happen to be one of them. A lot of times, you never really realize what resources are out there until you have a need. When they say they do a lot of good, they really mean it.
“I’m very committed to them.”
Now, besides his grandson, his son Jeffrey and daughter Cristy also are committed to the cause of helping the show be a success.
“This family pretty much adopted me several years ago,” Johnson said.
While Johnson loves seeing the gleam on the vehicles, she loves even more seeing the smile on the faces of car owners at the close of the show when more than 50 trophies are presented.
“I think my favorite part of the whole thing,” Johnson said, “is when I give out trophies to the people completely not expecting them at all.”
About the show
To register a car for the annual Salvation Army car show, people must pick up a registration form at the Salvation Army office at 2525 Illinois Ave., Columbus. Cost is $20 per vehicle. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.
Information: 812-372-7118.
