William Melvin Kelley
1937–2017 (age 80)
Novelist and professor
Biography
William Melvin Kelley broke literary ground with a voice that explored the intricacies of African American life across the nation and abroad. His debut novel garnered acclaim for its inventive narrative and he went on to mentor younger writers while teaching creative writing and literature at major universities.
Beyond his fiction, Kelley used criticism and essays to interrogate identity, race, and belonging, leaving a body of work that remains both bold and compassionate, remembered fondly by those who shared Forest Lawn Memorial Park.