Longtime morning voice for WBMC Kelly Marlowe, affectionately known as “Pa Kelly”, passed away Tuesday. He was 84.
Before his days in radio Kelly worked for Cook’s Department Store before opening his own store, Kelly’s Fashion. Kelly was also a gifted gospel singer singing for Bud Godwin and the Good News and for many years with the Harmony Echoes. Marlowe came to WBMC in 1988 working part-time for many years. In May 2000 Kelly became the host of Towntalk on WBMC along with co-host Bobby Newby. He would host Towntalk for over 20 years until his retirement on July 1,2020.
One of the charities close to Kelly’s heart was the Nursing Home Christmas, which benefited NHC and Willow Branch. He started in 1998 when he would visit his mother at NHC and saw workers pooling their money together to buy presents for patients with no family. This inspired him to start Nursing Home Christmas. In his first year it raised 598 dollars. It would grow and grow each and every year taking in between 5,000 and 10,000 dollars each time. In its history it has raised close to 200,000 dollars. The charity will live on and will be known going forward as the Kelly Marlowe Nursing Home Christmas overseen by Peg Broadcasting.