Gwendolyn Nelson

F RIDAY , M ARCH 3, 2023 11:00 AM S MITH C HAPEL AME C HURCH 2406 C HILDS S T . D ALLAS , T EXAS Officiant: Dr. C. Dennis Williams, Senior Pastor Eulogist: Dr. F. S. Moody, Sr. Pastor Emeritus, Mount Horum Missionary Baptist Church

Mrs. Gwendolyn Finn Nelson was one of four children born to Claude E and Abilene Finn in Texarkana, Arkansas. She accepted Christ at an early age and was an active member of the 11th Street Baptist Church in Texarkana, Arkansas. Mrs. Nelson graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Arkansas AM&N which became the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Master’s Degree at Wayne State University. Mrs. Finn reconnected with Mr. Harry Nelson, her grade and high school classmate, and became Mrs. Gwendolyn Finn Nelson in 1960. They were married for 30 years and had three children. As a military wife and youth advisor, Mrs. Nelson had the opportunity to travel the world before settling in Romulus, Michigan to raise their family. She was recognized by the United States Air Force for service to her country as an Air Force spouse. Mrs. Nelson was a lifelong educator and musician. She loved to play the piano and sing. She was a private piano tutor and organized youth choirs on each of the Air Force Bases her husband was assigned to. As a youth advisor at the YWCA of Detroit, she had the unique opportunity to organize and chaperon a group of young black students to Switzerland. As a public-school educator, she taught in Columbus, Ohio, and Romulus and Brownstown Community Schools (Michigan), before retiring from Van Buren Community Schools. Mrs. Nelson was an active member of Romulus Community Baptist Church for 43 years. She served as a Willing Worker, Senior Mission and Red Circle Advisor, Junior and Senior Usher Boards, and served faithfully as a Sunday School Teacher. She had a fine appreciation of old movies and their updated versions, including The Phantom, Flash Gordon, Zorro, and her all-time favorite-The Lone Ranger. She also enjoyed watching The South Park Movie. Mrs. Nelson was a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was initiated into the Alpha Rho Chapter at the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff. She was a member of several different chapters and became a Golden Girl and Pearl Soror as a member of Delta Psi Omega Chapter in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was an active member serving at the chapter level as Parliamentarian, Secretary, Graduate Advisor Council, and at the regional level as the 1959 South Central Regional Secretary. Mrs. Nelson was an avid reader and she loved to share her love of books with her children. She also shared her love for Family Circus with her children because she always heard them tell her “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know”. Mrs. Nelson was known as a kind woman with a sweet smile until a different tone was required. Those who keep her in their hearts include her children: James “Reggie” Nelson, Frisco, Texas, Felicia Moody (Kenneth), Kennedale, Texas, and Ron Nelson, Romulus, Michigan; her brothers: Claude E. Finn II, Oakland, CA (Eva) and Edwin Finn, Texarkana, Texas; two grandsons, Marshall and Major Moody; three nephews Michael Finn, Claude Finn III, and David Finn, one niece Renee Hodge, and a host of extended family and friends.

We had a wonderful mother, One who never really grew old; Her smile was made of sunshine, And her heart was solid gold; Her eyes were as bright as shining stars, And in her cheeks fair roses you see. We had a wonderful mother, And that’ s the way it will always be. But take heed, because She’s still keeping an eye on all of us, So let’s make sure She will like what she sees. Reggie, Felicia, Ron

A S ERVICE OF P RAISE AND T HANKSGIVING for the Life, Love, and Legacy of

Processional Prayer Scripture Readings………..…………………... Rev. Linda Murphy Old Testament—Psalm 91:1-4 New Testament Selection……………………………...…….. Mrs. Beverly Lightfoot “Amazing Grace” Resolutions & Acknowledgement

A Tribute to Grandmother Reading of Obituary (Silent) Poetry Reading: We Had a Mean Mother—Capt. James “Reggie” Nelson

Selection…………………………. “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” Eulogy…..………………..… Dr. F. S. Moody, Sr. Pastor Emeritus Mt. Horum Baptist Church Closing Remarks…..……….. Dr. C. Dennis Williams, Senior Pastor Recessional

“……Secure I am at work, at play Of such are these--the A. K. A. I think when I shall come to die There'll be no need of fear or sigh, For if I've been an A.K. A. Life owes me naught I've lived my day……” Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Initiation Hymn

You loved us, You spoiled us, You fed us,

You corrected us, You listened to us, You taught us, You challenged us, You stood at the window and made sure we made it safely to the bus and then back to the house, You sent books and toys then said our rooms looked like Toys R Us, You acted as our lawyer, doctor, and sometimes sided with the judge and jury. You attended our programs, smiling and clapping as only a grandmother could. Thank you for the late nights and early mornings. Forever in our hearts. -Marshall and Major Moody

The family of Mrs. Nelson would like to express their sincere thanks for the expressions of love and sympathy shared with us. Your prayers have blessed and encouraged us. Please continue to pray for our strength. May God continue to bless each of you E ARTHLY R ESTING P LACE Memorial Gardens Cemetery 5200 E Broad St.—Texarkana, AR 71854