O'Kelley Family Heritage and FREE Coat of Arms

Here is the O'Kelley Family heritage research of my loving father, Patric O'Kelley, Sr. He has traveled over the country and has meet some of our distant relatives. So far his research only tracks our O'Kelley roots from the South East United States back to 1832. Please, if interested enjoy my dad's research and if you have anything to add us the form to the right side to contact us and I will let my dad know.

O'Kelley Family Coat of Arms Free Download
I have also added FREE electronic downloadable files as a gift from our family to yours. If you look over to the left under Our O'Kelley family coat of arms (or o'kelley family crest) you will see where I have made available downloadable files for you to use however you wish. I have even included a embroidery file where you could go get hats and shirts made if you so desire and vector file that is simplified if you wish to have that too. Make a desktop background if you want or print out for a frame. Have fun if your last name ends with "Ey."

Back to my Dad's research findings on O'Kelley Family Heritage:

Thomas Manley O’Kelley
Dad's 4th great grandfather

Born: 1832 in DARLINGTON DISTRICT of SC
Died: Unknown
Buried: Unknown

THOMAS MANLEY O'KELLEY (JOHN FRANCIS MARION O'KELLEY, DAVID O'KELLEY) was born 1831 in DARLINGTON DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA. He was single and living in Trinity Louisiana by 1860 according to the census.

He married ANN ESTHER (-?-) in 1865 (who is sometimes confused with his brother's, John Beattie O’Kelley, first wife, Ann E. Harris). Thomas married Ann Esther on 1 Sep 1865 in WILKINSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI.

After the Civil War, the economy dramatically changed for the worse! There are stories about barrels of Confederate money in the basements of the O’Kelley farms in Mississippi.

Children of THOMAS MANLEY O'KELLEY and ANN (Mary??) ESTHER (--?--) are:

1. DOUGLAS HARRIS O'KELLEY was born 1868 in ARKANSAS, and died 1907 in SOMERSET PLANTATION, ASKWOOD, TENSAS, LOUISIANA.
2. CHARLES MANLEY O'KELLEY was born 1870, and died 1907. (See below.)
3. LEON MORTIMER O’KELLEY was born 1872 in MISSISSIPPI and died in 1935. He was probably named after his grandmother Leonora.
4. MARY ELIZABETH O'KELLEY was born 1873 in MISSISSIPPI.

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Thomas Manley O’Kelley
U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865

Name: T. M. O'Kelley
Side: Confederate
Regiment State/Origin: Mississippi
Regiment Name: 1 Mississippi L. Art'y.
Regiment Name Expanded: 1st Regiment, Mississippi Light Artillery Company: H Rank In: Private
Rank In Expanded: Private
Rank Out: Private
Rank Out Expanded: Private
Film Number: M232 roll 30

1860 Census

1880 Census

Note the two black servants living with the family who may have been with them for a long time, even before they were freed.

Charles Manley O’Kelley

Born: 1870
Died: 1907
Buried: Unknown
CHARLES MANLEY O'KELLEY (THOMAS MANLEY O’KELLEY, JOHN FRANCIS MARION O'KELLEY, DAVID O'KELLEY) was born 1870, and died 1907. He married ADA BLACKWELL in VICKSBURG, WARREN, MISSISSIPPI. She was born 14 Feb. 1874.

Children of CHARLES MANLEY O'KELLEY and ADA BLACKWELL are:

1. James Manley O'Kelley - b: 5Aug1898 in Mississippi d: 19 Jan 1956.
2. Child #2

1920 United States Federal Census
about C B Mandley O Kelley

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Name: C B Mandley O Kelley [C B Manley O'Kelley]
Home in 1920: Precinct 2, Bent, Colorado
Age: 23 years
Estimated birth year: abt 1897
Birthplace: Mississippi
Father's Birth Place: Louisiana
Mother's Birth Place: Virginia
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Sex: Male
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 337

U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
about C B Manley O'Kelley

Name: C B Manley O'Kelley
Birth Date: 5 Aug 1896
Residence: Jackson Heights, New York
Birth: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Race: White
Roll: WWII_2371960

Ships List for the "COAMO" from San Juan P. R. to NY 1937

Leon Mortimer O’Kelley

Born: 19 Sept 1873 in Mississippi
Died: 21 April 1935
Buried: Myrtle Hill Cemetery in Garden of Memories Cemetery - Tampa, Florida

Leon Mortimer “Mike” O’Kelley (THOMAS MANLEY O’KELLEY, JOHN FRANCIS MARION O’KELLEY, and DAVID O’KELLEY) was a blacksmith for the railroad. It was said that he was a big muscular man like most blacksmiths of the time. His last address was 1613 Georgia Ave, Tampa Fl.

He lived at 287 Kant (?) Duval County, FL when he registered for the draft on 12 Sept 1918. He died of a heart attack in 1935 in Tampa. Leon Mortimer (Mike) was married to Bertha Elizabeth Martin, who was born on 2 Feb. 1883 in Mississippi. She died 7 July 1961, in her son’s house in Cobb County Georgia. She is buried next to her husband in Myrtle Hill Cemetery, Garden of Memories - Hillsborough Co Tampa FL.

Children of LEON MORTIMER O’KELLEY and BERTHA are:

1. LEON MIKE O'KELLEY was born 28 Nov 1914 in Duval Co FL, and died 18 Sept 1989 in Douglas County Austell Ga. He was probably named after his dad and great grandmother.
2. EDNA O’KELLEY Died in her early twenties of a brain hemorrhage only days after marrying a wealthy doctor in Tampa FL. She died as she was preparing to go out to dinner with her new groom.

Myrtle Hill Cemetery, Garden of Memories Hillsborough Tampa FL

1915 Draft Registration

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Edna O'Kelley's Marriage 1927

Leon Mortimer O’Kelley
1920 and 1930 Census

House to the left: 1613 Georgia Ave Tampa FL 2908 Chaplin Ave Tampa FL On death certificate.
House to the Right: 2908 Chaplin Ave Tampa FL On death certificate Possible home where Leon Mike, Sr was raised. Chaplin is the correct street, but the exact home is not yet known.

Leon Mortimer O’Kelley
Death Certificate

Errors: Father's Name – Manuel; Birthplace – Unknown or Texas; Mother's Name - Mary

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Leon Mike O’Kelley, Sr
(My Late Granddaddy)

Born 25 November 1914
Died 18 September 1989 Buried Mount Pleasant Methodist Church in Cobb County GA with his loving wife, Mary Lee Watts/O'Kelley

Leon Mike O’Kelley (LEON MORTIMER O’KELLLEY, THOMAS MANLEY O’KELLEY, JOHN FRANCIS MARION O’KELLEY, and DAVID O’KELLEY) was a mechanical engineer for the railroad and subsequently a traveling salesman specializing in heavy machinery. He obtained unique experience working in the roundhouses on the old steam engines that disappeared by the 1950’s. Later, he was sought out to help with the steam trains used in the many theme and amusement parks across the country.

Mike attended Boys High in Tampa Fl where he played football and basketball. His football team won the state championship and then played an extra post season game with the Georgia high school state champions, the Georgia Military Academy. Tampa Boys High lost by 40 points! In Mike’s words, “We got our butts kicked real good!” He was the first known member of his family to obtain a college degree. He graduated from Harding College in Arkansas attending during the early 1930’s. He was almost expelled for putting a goat in the dean’s office. He played football and basketball. He fouled out of every basketball game he ever played! To say the least, he enjoyed his college days! He married Allie Southern in New Orleans on 01 Dec 1933 on a whim. His parents had the marriage annulled one week later.

He married Mary Lee Watts in 1937. Mary Lee was born 6 Dec 1916 in Atlanta GA and for 60 years lived in their house in Austell GA until she died. They had a long successful and happy marriage but they had their challenges! Their first born son at 10 years contracted the Polio virus and suffered an extended illness with life-long disabilities. Several times they came very close to losing their house and property because of the medical bills. Mike was active in the Shiners Masonic Order until financial difficulties forced him to withdraw. Mary was also active in the Easter Star Masonic Order.

Mike was a good father and a devoted husband and always brought all his pay home. He insisted that all his children obtain a college degree. Even with the illness challenges he was successful in that lifelong goal.

One week marriage to Allie Southern

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Children of LEON MIKE O’KELLEY and MARY LEE WATTS are listed below:

1. LEON MIKE O'KELLEY, JR. was born 1 Feb 40 in ATLANTA GA. Mike Jr contacted polio in the 1950’s. He spend over a year in Warm Springs GA recovering, and was named the 1953 Georgia State Poster Child by the March of Dimes. Mike, Jr. graduated from Southern Technical Institute in Marietta GA. Mike was probably named after his father, grandfather, and great, great grandmother.
2. TERRY LEE O'KELLEY was born 25 Nov 1944 in ATLANTA GA. Terry attended Harding College (same as her dad) and received a degree in Biotechnology. Terry married Mike Richardson in 1970 and had a daughter Laurie Richardson in 1971. Died 2008
3. PATRIC DAVID O'KELLEY was born 29 Dec 1946 in ATLANTA GA. During his childhood Patric was active in the Boy Scouts and obtained the rank of “Life Scout”. He befriended two boys in the fifth grade who remained his life long friends - David Martin George and William Dennis Johnson.

Patric David O’Kelley, Sr

Born: 29Dec1946
Atlanta Georgia
Graduated from South Cobb High School Cobb County GA -1965 Georgia State University (BBA with honors) -1969 Georgia State University (MBA with honors) -1975 CPA certified -1973

In high school Patric was co-captain of his football team (three year letterman), track (shot-put), sports editor of the high school paper, honor student, Beta Club, chess club, senior class officer, and participated in the preparation of the student annual.

He was drafted into the US Army in 1969 and served in Panama Canal Zone until 1971

Married: Carma Lee James – 25 July 1968 - Divorced 16 December 1988 Married: Patty Ann Davis – 13 August 1994 - Divorced 8 March 2002 Married: Sherry Ann Marsh -4 March 2005

Children of PATRIC DAVID O’KELLEY and CARMA LEE JAMES are:

1. PATRICK DAVID O'KELLEY, JR was born 22 Nov
2. ERIC JAMES O’KELLEY was born 29 Nov
3. KATY LEE O'KELLEY was born 29 July
4. MARY SHAENA O’KELLEY was born 29 Jan

Credit: This research is all credit to my loving dad, Patric O'Kelley, Sr., pictured above. This is his work of love. If you have history to add to this please contact me so that I may tell him. I can even get him in touch with you.

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