Rosalie Nelson

NELSON, Rosalie Bates, 94, of Richmond, died Friday, December 4, 2009. She was the daughter of the late John W. and Ethel Williams Bates. She graduated from John Marshall High School class of 1932 and from Hollins College (now University) in 1936. She married William Wingfield Nelson on November 20, 1940. After her marriage, she joined Westminster Presbyterian Church where she has been active as a Bible teacher as well as participating in the Women's work of the Church. She was predeceased by her husband, William Wingfield Nelson; a son, William W. Nelson Jr.; two brothers, Jack Bates and Ned Bates; and a sister, Anne Nelson Bates. She is survived by her son, John Kennon Nelson and his wife, Marjorie, of Richmond; two daughters, Anne Nelson Anderson and her husband, Roger, of Mooresville, N.C., and Jane Nelson Broome and her husband, William, of Norwalk, Conn.; and a daughter-in-law, Joyce Morelli of Jamestown, N.C.; 10 grandchildren, William W. Nelson III of Richmond, Paige Nelson Matthews of Jamestown, N.C., Barbara Allan Nelson, Jane Claiborne Nelson and Maury Kennon Nelson of Richmond, Beth Anderson McCracken of Clemson, S.C., Sarah Anderson O'Neill of Mooresville, N.C., Christopher Nelson Anderson of Vienna, Austria, Bonnie Anne Broome and William Carl Broome of Norwalk, Conn.; 11 great- grandchildren, William Wingfield Nelson IV, Charles Lodge Nelson, Justin Thomas Matthews, Kathryn Paige Matthews, William Lee Matthews, Carter Ellett Randall, Ezra John Stoner, Thomas Neal McCracken, Rosalie Kennon McCracken, Carlisle Bates O'Neill and Tace Kennon O'Neill. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, December 7, 2009 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Westminister Presbyterian Church.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.