Nelie Wiley Hurst

Family-Placed Death Notice

NELIE WILEY HURST Mrs. Nelie Wiley Hurst of Atlanta, wife of prominent cardiologist Dr. J. Willis Hurst, died April 26, 2004 at Emory University Hospital from acute respiratory distress syndrome, a resistant type of pneumonia that followed an extensive operation for cancer of the pancreas. She was born in Jersey, Georgia on September 13, 1920 and was the fourth daughter of Myrtie Nelle Barrett and Berry Aubrey Wiley. She graduated from Jersey High School where she was an all-state basketball player. She attended West Georgia College in Carrollton and graduated in 1941 from the University of Georgia where she was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. She taught the sixth grade in the Jersey school system and married on December 20, 1942. She worked in the Georgia Railroad headquarters in Augusta while her husband completed medical school. She accompanied him to Boston where he completed his cardiology training and lived in Denver and Washington as he completed his tour of duty in the Army and Navy. She moved to Atlanta in 1950 when her husband joined the Emory faculty. She loved Emory and participated in many of the academic activities of the medical school, volunteered in the hospital gift shop, and was a life member of the Emory University Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of St. John United Methodist Church where she taught children's Sunday school for many years. She was a member of the Blackland Garden Club and the Fine Arts Study Club. She was a beautiful, loving, red haired lady who was emotionally mature, wise, genuine and kind. She saw the best in people. Her husband states, "We were married for 61 years during which she made our house a home. A better wife and mother has not been created. Now, she will make heaven a better place." In addition to her husband, she is survived by sons Dr. John W. (Deborah) Hurst, J. Stephen (Leslie) Hurst and Philip W. (Tamara) Hurst, all of Atlanta; grandchildren Carter H. (Michael) Deaderick, John W. Hurst III, Dee Hurst, Stuart D. Hurst, C. Willis Hurst, Jessica H. (Tate) Jackson; step-grandchildren Christina and Jeffrey Hampton; great-grandchild David Deaderick; and sister Mrs. Louise Lewis.The family will receive friends Friday evening from 7 until 9 o'clock at H. M. Patterson Spring Hill, 1020 Spring Street. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 1 at 2 o'clock at St. John United Methodist Church, 550 Mount Paran Road. The family will receive friends following the service in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. John United Methodist Church, 550 Mount Paran Rd., Atlanta, GA 30327. Arrangements by H. M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill Chapel, 1020 Spring Street, 404-876-1022.