Kelly Hersey

Kelly Roger Hersey, 64, of Northport, Alabama, passed away in the early hours of the Lord's Day, January 5, 2025, after a short, valiant struggle with glioblastoma.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Lynn Hersey; daughter, Elizabeth, and sons, William, Seth, and Jacob; parents, Jerry and Patricia Hersey; sister, Janan Casar; brother, Michael Hersey; and grandchildren, Nora (3) and Edgar (11 mos.) Hersey. They, like Kelly, are a scattered bunch, ranging from here in Northport, AL to Indiana, Missouri, and North Carolina, with tendrils stretching coast to coast and even down to the Caribbean.

Many thoughts come to mind when someone mentions Kelly. First and foremost was his devotion to the worship of God. He was what we like to call a "hymn savant." He never tired of talking about hymns, of singing them, or even just reading them. He read books about their history. He studied their literary structure, but, primarily, he viewed them as a critical element of worship. Against popular culture, he felt a hymn tune should be modest to better focus thoughts on the praise and goodness of God. For countless people, he was the introduction to the very concept that hymns were more than catchy tunes collected in a book. His passion for hymnody lit fires in hearts and sparked many new students. It was a long-standing goal of his to resurrect and preserve the important hymns of generations past. His greatest accomplishment was a labor of love twenty years in the making. He gathered all his research into a hymnal, "Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder," sharing it with anyone he met. Always humble, he would not claim success, but we all feel that he personally contributed immensely to this great body of work with his own hymns and hymn tunes.

He was a passionate student of anything that piqued his interest. He never dabbled, but threw himself completely into everything. He didn't just learn to make the best scrambled eggs - he could make them six different ways. He didn't just learn Hapkido, he became a third degree black belt by absorbing the philosophy and practicing the sport on his wife and small children.

Speaking of small children, his love for them was the reason he originally went into Pediatrics. Few people can draw little people to themselves as quickly and easily as he could. He was the master of the "washing machine" game and he always claimed that the only surefire way to get a baby to smile was peek-a-boo. Because he was always successful, we believe him. He also thought it was funny to let a baby taste a lemon.

Kelly was a passionate Neonatologist, caring for countless babies and their families. He took the time to explain difficult situations to scared and grieving parents. He rejoiced with them when their little ones grew and thrived. Everywhere he went, mothers would thank him for his help and understanding. Just days before his death, when he went to the ER for swelling on the brain, an ER nurse brought a picture of her daughter, thanking him for delivering and caring for her two years before. He also grieved with devastated parents, helping them to understand that if we accept life from God, we should also accept death.

Kelly was a believer in truth, truth in everything. "There is truth in medicine, just like there is truth in what defines a good hymn, just like there is truth in the Bible." And it is certainly true that he was loved by so many and will be deeply missed. As we move forward, striving to enhance our worship of God with the hymns he loved, can you imagine the hymns he's singing right now?

Kelly's service will be held at Northwood Church of Christ on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 2:00 pm. Visitation will take place prior to the service starting at 12:00. The service will be led by his brother, Michael. The pallbearers will be Josh Branch, Seth Mauldin, Ryan Strozensky, Jacob Hersey, Shane Millard, and Mike McLaughlin. Honorary pallbearers will be William and Seth Hersey.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to The Hippocrates Research Foundation at https://www.hippocratesresearchfoundation.org/blank-page.

Copies of his hymnal will be handed out to all who attend the service. If you would like a hymnal mailed to you, email kelly.hymnal@gmail.com. You are welcome to have a hymnal, you just have to promise to read it.