In Memory of
Azell Whatley
Nelson
Nelson
1948 - 2018
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Ellis D. Jones & Sons, Inc.
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Obituary for Azell Whatley Nelson
Mr. Azell Whatley Nelson went to be with our Lord and Savior on July 16, 2018 surrounded by family and friends at Duke University Medical Center. He was born in Marshall, Virginia on January 3, 1948 to the late William H and Goldia Cook Nelson.
At an early age, Azell was baptized and became a member of Salem Baptist Church in Marshall, Virginia. He was a devoted member of Union Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina for over 20 years, where he faithfully served on the Trustee Broad for many of those years.
Azell had a passion for serving others in various callings. Directly after completing high school in Fauquier County, Virginia, Azell decided to join the United States Armed Forces, when he was soon promoted to Tank Commander. In this capacity, he was deployed to Vietnam and was injured while valiantly protecting and saving his company thus earning him the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. After retiring from the Army, he was employed for ten years by Fairfax County Fire Service (Virginia), as a firefighter and EMS. Azell retired from the fire department on disability and then became a cross country charter bus driver for five years.
Azell was married to Dina W Jones on September 1, 1979. The marriage was blessed with one son, Shane R Nelson. Azell was deeply loved and respected by family and friends. He enjoyed the quality time spent with them. His time was well spent doing the things that brought him joy, such as motorcycling, photography, camping, tinkering with electronics and machines, and working his lawn care business.
Those left to cherish his memories are his wife of 39 years, Dina Nelson of the home; son Shane (Rhyan) Nelson of Raleigh, NC; sisters Ann Nelson, Joyce Urby, and Lillian (Robert) Walker; brother Eugene Nelson; mother in law Martha Harper; sisters-in-law Marian Nelson, Mattie Nelson, and Jean Nelson; brother-in-law Jameson Carter;16 nieces and nephews; and a host of cousins and great friends.
At an early age, Azell was baptized and became a member of Salem Baptist Church in Marshall, Virginia. He was a devoted member of Union Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina for over 20 years, where he faithfully served on the Trustee Broad for many of those years.
Azell had a passion for serving others in various callings. Directly after completing high school in Fauquier County, Virginia, Azell decided to join the United States Armed Forces, when he was soon promoted to Tank Commander. In this capacity, he was deployed to Vietnam and was injured while valiantly protecting and saving his company thus earning him the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. After retiring from the Army, he was employed for ten years by Fairfax County Fire Service (Virginia), as a firefighter and EMS. Azell retired from the fire department on disability and then became a cross country charter bus driver for five years.
Azell was married to Dina W Jones on September 1, 1979. The marriage was blessed with one son, Shane R Nelson. Azell was deeply loved and respected by family and friends. He enjoyed the quality time spent with them. His time was well spent doing the things that brought him joy, such as motorcycling, photography, camping, tinkering with electronics and machines, and working his lawn care business.
Those left to cherish his memories are his wife of 39 years, Dina Nelson of the home; son Shane (Rhyan) Nelson of Raleigh, NC; sisters Ann Nelson, Joyce Urby, and Lillian (Robert) Walker; brother Eugene Nelson; mother in law Martha Harper; sisters-in-law Marian Nelson, Mattie Nelson, and Jean Nelson; brother-in-law Jameson Carter;16 nieces and nephews; and a host of cousins and great friends.
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