Jimmie L. Nelson

Jimmie L. Nelson, 97, died May 14, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas.

Nelson was born on Feb. 11, 1928, in the Grand Hotel in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Izetta Mansfield of Marysville, Texas and George Alfred Boone of Vera, Texas.

Shortly after his birth, he was given to the Childrens Aid Society, an orphanage. Within days Wallis Nelson and Nettie Strait Nelson of Burkburnett, Texas adopted him. He was named after Nettie's brother, Jimmie Strait.

His adopted mother died in 1931 and Nelson was given to the care of Nettie's parents, Lewis and Cora Strait. In 1933, Wallis Nelson and his new wife, Lottie Bookout Nelson, came for Jimmie and took him to Olney, Texas, then moved to Borger, Texas.

In 1933, after giving birth to a daughter, Patricia June Nelson, Nelson's stepmother Lottie died. His father remarried his next stepmother, Patricia Phillips and the family lived oilfield camps in Pampa and Borger before moving to a permanent address in Borger. A few years later Wallis and Patricia adopted twin girls, Janette Shannon and Janeane Sharon.

Nelson graduated from Borger High in 1945 and Baylor University in 1949. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a master's degree in 1952 and received his doctorate from the seminary in 1961.

In the early 1960s, Nelson found his biological mother, Izetta, and learned of his other siblings, R.C. Smith and Edna Herrington.

Nelson served as pastor of churches across Texas for 25 years before he was named a faculty member at Southwestern in 1972. He began as the director of field education for the School of Theology, became associate dean for the Doctor of Ministry program, and then was named professor of preaching. During his time at Southwestern, he continued to work in Texas and European churches as interim pastor. He participated in crusades, revivals, and conferences in Japan, Brazil, the West Indies, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Romania, Russia and the Ivory Coast. He also served as an adjunct professor for several semesters at the Canadian Baptist Seminary.

Nelson was preceded in death by Dolores, his wife of 53 years, and all his siblings. He is survived by two sons, Stephen Nelson and his wife Robin of Paonia, Colorado and J. Alan Nelson and his wife (Susan) of Waco, Texas; his daughter Julie Couch and her husband Robert of Lubbock; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held Monday, June 2, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Burleson, Texas. Visitation will be held Sunday, June 1, 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Mountain Valley Funeral Home in Joshua, Texas.