Charles Kelly Barrow was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. His wife Cassie, a member of the Atlanta Chapter 18 UDC, shares his passion for preserving our Confederate heritage. They, in turn, share that with their children Georgianah and William, both members of Julia Jackson Chapter 1 CofC. William is also a Life Member of the SCV.
Kelly received his BS in Social Science and Military Science from Shorter College, his MA in History and Education from Piedmont College, and his Ed.S in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University. He was a Cadet in college and served in the United States Army Reserves. He also worked as a Legislative Aide in the Georgia General Assembly.
On January 20, 1979, Kelly joined the SCV with his father and brother. Simultaneously, his mother joined the UDC, and his sister joined the CofC. During his 39 years of membership, he has participated on many different levels. His highest-ranking office was as the 73rd Commander in Chief of the National SCV from 2014-2016
Kelly also serves on the Georgia Civil War (sic) Commission as Vice Chairman and has authored, edited, and researched many topics concerning our Confederate Heritage, including Black Confederates, Black Southerners in Confederate Armies, The History of the Georgia Division, SCV: The First One Hundred Years 1896-1996 and Georgia’s Confederate Counties. In 2009, Kelly wrote Georgia Senate Bill 27, which designated April as Confederate History Month. It was signed into law on April 29 by Governor Sonny Perdue. For his endeavors, he was awarded the UDC Jefferson Davis Gold Medal.
Kelly is a member of Union Baptist Church in Griffin, Georgia, a Life Member of the MOS&B, a Life Member of the NRA, an Honorary Associate Member of the UDC, a member of the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team, serves on the Board for the Southern Cultural Foundation and a former Shorter University Board of Trustees member.
Kelly is an educator who teaches 10th-grade World History in Henry County. During his 22-year teaching career, he has held numerous positions, including girls’ varsity soccer coach and Department Chair. 2012, he was named Henry County Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year.
Kelly’s passions are spending time with his family, traveling, researching, and studying history.