Kelly Martin Laney

Kelly Martin Laney

I was born at South Highland Hospital in May of 1957 and lived in Avondale until my family moved to a small farm when I was 17 months old. I graduated from W. A. Berry High School in 1975, attended UAB and earned a Bachelor of Sciences in Criminal Justice/History and Psychology. I attended UA for my Master of Library and Information Studies. I lived in Birmingham until 2005 when I moved to Sterrett, Al. I have two sons who reside in Birmingham and I am currently a librarian with the Birmingham Public Library at the Springville Road Branch.

A kind of “noblesse oblige” attitude

My family lived in Avondale, Alabama, until we moved to a farm on Lower Rocky Ridge (south Jefferson County) in about 1960. Our mailing address was Route 13, Birmingham, and I always considered myself as being born and raised here. I was just a little girl and was pretty sheltered from anything that was going on in 1963, but I do remember a few things. We had a maid who worked one day a week for my Mama. Her name was Lillie, and I have two distinct memories regarding her.