Dr. Gary Lee Kerley

Dr. Gary Lee Kerley, 77, beloved husband, brother, stepparent, grandparent, great grandparent, teacher, scholar and poet, passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at Bermuda Village Retirement Community, his home since 2018. He was born on August 28, 1949, in Newport News, VA, to Royd Steve Kerley and Doris Darnell Kerley, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Royd Steve Kerley, Jr., who lost his life in Vietnam.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Patricia Amos Kerley; stepson James Bowling French Jr. (Lynn); stepdaughter Patricia Milette Schmidt; grandchildren Kevin Langston (Mindy) and their children Kaden, Luke and Nora; Chelsie Miller (Jacob) and their children, Kyle, Carter and Emmalyn; Taylor Reed (Toby) and their daughters, Amelia, Everleigh, Penelope and Charlotte and grandsons Sean and Albert James "AJ" Clark, his brothers Christopher Loyd Kerley and Michael Vincent Kerley (Suzanne Ishee) and nieces Jean Rives Leonard and Jessica Kerley-Tansky.

Dr. Kerley was a highly respected voice in Southern literature, known for his poetry, literary analyses and reviews. His work was published in more than 100 prominent literary journals including The Sewanee Review, The Georgia Review, The South Carolina Review and The James Dickey Review. He contributed extensively to The New Georgia Encyclopedia, The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War and numerous others.

His family moved to Alto, GA in 1955 where he began his education at Lula Elementary School. He graduated from East Hall High School in 1967.

Dr. Kerley began writing poetry as a young teen and became recognized and awarded for his talent while a student at the University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and a Master of Arts degree in English. After teaching for a year in Crawford County, GA, he continued his education at the University of South Carolina where he earned a PhD in English literature and worked as a teaching assistant.

Although he continued writing until his death, his heart was always in the classroom, where he challenged, inspired and nurtured generations of students in the love and use of language and literature to enrich their lives. After a year teaching at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, GA, he joined the faculty of Brenau Academy, a four-year private preparatory school for girls, where he taught for more than 20 years. He treasured the decades of cards and "love letters" he received from former students thanking him for his wit, patience and lasting positive influence in their lives. He finished his teaching career at Brenau University and North Hall High School in Gainesville, GA where he worked for 10 years.

As comfortable watching reruns of The Andy Griffeth Show as he was studying Shakespeare, those who knew this man of words used many words to describe him - witty, complex, gifted, unique, soft-spoken, and short. He loved cats, poetry, home, books, TV, football, his family, all of his friends, most of his students, Skittles, autumn, his churches and his God.

A service to celebrate his life will be at Clemmons United Methodist Church at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2026. In lieu of flowers send contributions to Clemmons United Methodist Church, 3700 Clemmons Rd., Clemmons NC 27012. Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel is serving the Kerley family.