Charles L Nelson Jr

Charles L. Nelson, Jr., 82, passed away on September 18, 2018 following a brave 5-year fight against multiple heath issues. He was a third generation Nelson born in Escatawpa, Mississippi. He was born to Charles L. Nelson, Sr. and Mildred Megehee Nelson on January 25, 1936. At an early age, the family moved to Pascagoula, Mississippi where he graduated from high school in 1955. Charles had a love for sports all of his life and participated in track and field, football and basketball, making honorable mention in football for the All Big 8 Conference during his senior year of high school. Charles continued his love for sports playing football at Mississippi Gulfcoast Community College, and Mississippi College, where he graduated in 1961. Into his later years, tennis and Mississippi State Athletics were his passion. He served in the US Army, coached in D’Iberville and Pascagoula, prior to moving to Laurel in 1968, where he worked in office equipment sales, and retired after 25 years with Bancorpsouth Financial. He served on the original Board of Directors of the Home of Grace in Vancleave, Mississippi, and the original Laurel Recreation Dept. Board. Mr. Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Janice Hicks, special cousins Hubby Nelson and Earl Nelson, and special friends, Mickey Davenport and Buddy Sellers. Mr. Nelson is survived by his wife of 54 years, Martha Brooks Parker Nelson from Lexington, MS, a brother Mac Nelson of Pascagoula, MS, son Forrest (Tokiko) of Tokyo, Japan, daughter Julie McCraney (Chip) of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, son Parker (Crystal) of Foley, AL, brother-in-law Jack Hicks of Cobbtown, GA, and his oldest granddaughter’s father and stepmother Milton and Gina Chancellor of Tuscaloosa, AL. Eight grand children---Kayley C. Hudson (Steve), and Cameron Chancellor of Tuscaloosa, AL, Marlowe and Marshall McCraney of Santa Rosa Beach, Fl, Forrest Mitchell Nelson Jr. and Lisa Maria Nelson of Tokyo, Japan, and Caden and Cambri Nelson of Foley, AL and one great grandchild---Hallie Brooks Hudson of Tuscaloosa, AL. Services will be held at First United Methodist Church of Laurel on Thursday, September 20th. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the service will follow at 11 a.m. Rev. Mark Anderson will be officiating. Honorary pallbearers are David Lewis, Ed Diket, Paul Smith, Clyde Bosarge, Louis Crumbley, Charles Twiddy, Byron Gough, Jerome Wyatt, Bill Morrison, Warren Rayburn, Harold Melvin and Tom Ruffin. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Home of Grace in Vancleave, Mississippi, the First United Methodist Church in Laurel and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com. ADMIN OFFICE & MEN'S CAMPUS Phone: (228) 826-5283 Fax: (228) 826-1663 14200 Jericho Rd PO Box 5009 Vancleave, MS 39565 First United Methodist Church 420 North Fifth Avenue Laurel, MS 39440 601.425.1474 tel Donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Online https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=wtg-mm-btn-donate-now

Charles L Nelson Jr

January 25, 1936 - September 18, 2018