Daphne Goodman Nelson

Daphne Anne Goodman Nelson, of Wilmington, NC, died in her home on November 2 at the age of 96. Born January 21, 1929, in Marion NC, she was the daughter of Annie Lee Morris and Ralph Watts Goodman. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Nelson, and siblings Harold Goodman, Agnes Lowder and Hilda Foreman. She graduated from Marion High School and Flora MacDonald College, where she majored in Piano Performance and minored in French. Daphne met her future husband Jack in Ellerbe, NC, where she had her first job, teaching piano lessons in the public school. They were married for 62 years and lived in Asheboro, Greensboro and Wilmington. Although she lived on the coast most of her life, she had a deep love of the NC mountains where she grew up.

She is survived by her children, Anne Nelson Stokley (Robert), Laura Nelson Blalock (Steve), and Mark Douglas Nelson (Damiene), by her granddaughter Elizabeth Anne Stokley (Ryan Stephens), great-granddaughter Eleanor Grace Stephens, and many nieces and nephews.

Faith was an important part of Daphne's life, and she was a lifelong Presbyterian, active in four churches in NC. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington for 60 years, where she sang alto in the Chancel Choir, was the music teacher in the Weekday Kindergarten, was an active Circle member, and served as a Deacon and an Elder. She received an Honorary Life Membership in Presbyterian Women.

Daphne taught piano lessons for 50 years and shared her love of music with hundreds of students in her home studio, and she played her piano every day. She also shared her musical talents at the openings of many Azalea Festival Art Shows and was a substitute organist in local churches.

Her community engagement included delivering Meals on Wheels and volunteering at the polls. Daphne voted in every election and believed in a government that supports all people. She was an avid reader, an excellent cook, and loved gardening, travel, a good day at the beach, and long nature walks.

A celebration of Daphne's life will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 2:00pm Sunday, November 9. Contributions in her memory may be made to First Presbyterian Church Music Fund (firstonthird.org), WHQR Classical Radio 92.7 (whqr.org), or the New Hanover County Public Library (nhcgov.com).

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Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 S.41st Street Wilmington, NC 28403 910-791-9099.