John Kelly Wall

John Kelly Wall, 87, of Charlotte, died Saturday, May 8, 2010, following a long battle with cancer. Mr. Wall was born February 15, 1923, in Mount Airy, the son of John Daniel Wall and Lucy Davenport. A graduate of Flat Rock High School, he attended Brevard College before joining the Army Air Corp where he was an instructor on the weapons systems for B-24 bombers. He later joined the Army Reserves where he retired from the 108th Army Reserves and the United States Army Corps in Charlotte. He was selected Airman of the Year for the state of North Carolina and runner-up for National Selection in 1964. After World War II, he began his law enforcement career where he joined the Mecklenburg County Police Department and rose in rank to Captain and second in command for the County Police. During his police career, he attended UNCC, Troy State Teachers College, Northwestern Aviation School, and CPCC for law enforcement training, later instructing in Criminal Justice Courses to new police recruits. He developed the Safety Patrol for the county school system, and was the Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Alcohol Safety Action Project, which brought to the county police the first use of breathalyzer systems to identify impaired drivers. He completed his distinguished service in law enforcement as the elected sheriff of Mecklenburg County, serving from 1978 to 1982. His distinguished service is remembered by many current and retired members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and those in the Charlotte legal community. John Kelly Wall was a longtime member of Mount Airy Friends Church and Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church in Charlotte. He was a 32nd degree member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, where he was a 50 year member, and a past president of the Masonic Fellowship Club, the Excelsior Masonic Lodge #261, as well as a member of the Oasis Temple, where he served on the directors staff and belonged to the Red Fez Club. He also helped organize and became the first president of the Sharon Civitan Club where he was a member for over 50 years. He worked with Little League baseball and Pop Warner football. He was past commander of Jesse B. Jones Post #123 of the American Legion of Mount Airy and also "Y" Fellowship Club as a charter member and past president. Other memberships and associations include the National Sheriffs, North Carolina Police Executives, Southern Police Alumni, North Carolina Law Enforcement Officers, National Police Officers, Advisory Committee for North Carolina Police Information Network and the Legislative Committee of the North Carolina Sheriffs. John Kelly is survived by Velma Nelson Wall, his wife of over 66 years; their daughter, Bonnie Lee Greenberg, and son-in-law, Daryl Greenberg, of Charlotte; his grandson, David Brabham and wife, Lacey, and their two children, Raelee and Ashton, of Monks Corner, SC. Also surviving are his granddaughter, Rebecca Morgan and husband, Hugh, their two children, Peyton and Eva Marie, also of Monks Corner, SC. Memorials may be sent to Mount Airy Friends Church, 109 West Wilson Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030. A graveside service will be held at Oakdale Cemetery on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at 1:00 PM. Dr. Jon Cawley will officiate.