Tributes have been paid to a Church of Ireland clergyman who has died suddenly less than a year after losing his wife in a tragic car accident.
Rev Trevor Kelly, curate in the parishes of Drummaul, Duneane and Ballyscullion in Co Antrim, passed away on Saturday evening in the ICU of Antrim Area Hospital after taking ill last Tuesday.
His death at the age of 55 comes just weeks before the first anniversary of his wife's death in a car crash late last year.
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Mother-of-two, Aurelia Kelly (née Martin), from Ballymena died following a two-vehicle road traffic collision at the Frosses Road area of Ballymoney on Thursday, November 4, 2021.
Just before last Christmas, the Kelly family ensured Aurelia's legacy lived on by donating to Ballymena Foodbank, one of the many charities she had supported during her life that was particularly close to her heart.
Rev Trevor is survived by his son Andrew, daughter Rebecca, daughter-in-law Laura, his mother Betty, brother Glenn and sister Lynne.
The Church of Ireland Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev George Davison, was among those extending his condolences to the Kelly family.
Bishop Davison, said: “I’m devastated at the news of the death of the Rev Trevor Kelly and want to assure Andrew, Rebecca and the whole Kelly and Martin family circles of my prayerful sympathy at this very sad time for them.
“Trevor was the epitome of a Christian pastor, a man of sincere faith with a gentle soul and genuine care for people. His warmth and friendship were appreciated by all who knew him, in the church and in his ‘daytime’ job as a teacher in Hazelwood Integrated College.
“Whilst we are all struggling to take in the fact that Trevor’s death comes less than a year since his beloved wife Aurelia died in a tragic motor accident, I’m praying that each of us will find comfort in the knowledge that they have gone ahead of us into God’s new kingdom, where tears and sorrow are banished and all things are made new in Christ.”
Canon Derek Kerr, who is rector of Drummaul, Duneane and Ballyscullion, added: "The parishioners of Drummaul, Duneane and Ballyscullion are deeply, deeply saddened. There have been and will be many more tears.
"Our prayers go up to the Lord God Almighty through Jesus Christ for Rebecca, Andrew and Laura, Trevor's mummy, sister and brother and all the Kelly and Martin family circle.
"A true gentleman and deep, close friend is gone. Trevor you are dearly loved and deeply missed."
Rev Trevor was also a senior member of staff at Hazelwood Integrated College and in a statement, the school said: "Sadly, a tragedy has happened in our school community. Our esteemed colleague and senior teacher, Reverend Trevor Kelly has died suddenly after a short illness.
"This is a tragic loss to Trevor’s family and to our school community. Trevor was one of our most longstanding members of staff having worked at the College for the past 30 years. He was a member of the College Senior Leadership Team and Head of Business Studies and Public Services, as well as serving as the college Chaplain.
"The entire Hazelwood community is devastated at Trevor’s sudden passing. To assist in supporting our staff and pupils through this time of grief, trained staff from the Education Authority’s Critical Incident Response Team have been assigned to the school to provide support."
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