Dottie Nelson

Dottie Nelson-

Dorothy “Dottie” Louise Sanders Nelson, 103 ½, a resident of Columbus, MS died January, 19, 2026 at Trinity Independent Living. Visitation will be at 10:00-11:00 and a Celebration of Life service will be held in Columbus at First Methodist Church, 602 Main St., Columbus, MS 39701 on this Thursday, January 22nd, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dr. Vaughn Stafford officiating and Gentiva Chaplin Adam Garner assisting.

A graveside service will be held in Montgomery, AL right behind White Chapel-Greenwood Funeral Home & Greenwood Serenity Gardens, 909 Lincoln Rd., Montgomery, AL 36109 on this Friday, January 23rd, at 2:00 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery.

Dottie was born on August 5, 1922 in Cleveland, MS, and was raised in Columbus, MS. She then lived in Montgomery, AL from 1953–2007 and then moved back to Columbus, MS. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and the matriarch of her family.

She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, Montgomery, Alabama and currently a member of the First Methodist Church, Columbus, Mississippi. Dottie was also an active member of the Lewis Fellowship Sunday School Class, in addition to J.O.Y. in Columbus, MS.

Before she lived in Montgomery, she rode a camel in Egypt, and lived in Germany. While in Montgomery, she traveled several places in the world, was active in a Bridge Club (40 years), played golf and was a member of a Federated Garden Club (30 years).

She has lived at Trinity Independent Living in Columbus, MS for the past 18 1/2 years and was the longest living resident at Trinity. She loved living there in her apartment where she made many friends over the years. Her favorite thing to do was play bingo and participate in many other fun activities. Each yearly Halloween contest, with the help of Nikki Austin, she would dress her up like Dolly Parton, Bat Woman, a Pirate and many other characters. Dottie so loved and all her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Wherever she would go, church, doctor visit, out to dinner, she would always dress herself in nice attire with matching jewelry from head to toe. Anytime she was out she would speak to everyone and start a conversation with them.

In addition to her parents, Milton & Louise Sanders, she was preceded in death by her, husband Thomas H. Nelson, Jr., brother Milton C. Sanders, step-son Bernard F. Nelson, step-daughter, Mary Joyce Kister, granddaughter, Samantha Nelson, step-grandson, Mike Kister and step-grandson-n-laws, Kelly Cohn & Ronald Jones.

Dottie is survived by her daughters, Patti (Kim) Johnson of Columbus, MS, Donna (Eric) Andresen of San Rafael, CA and son, Stephen D. (Terri) Nelson of Luverne, AL; grandchildren, Beth (Frank) Madeline, Becky (Mike) Stanifer, Emily (Ryan) Peacock, Julie Andresen, Cameron (Daniel) Nelson Reid; step-grandchildren, Claudia (Jerry) Burleson, Pam Jones, Nancy Cohn, Greg (Cindy) Nelson, Kim (Bob) Bessolo, Brian Nelson, Brad (Laie) Nelson, Shannon Cote, Ryan O’Neal; numerous great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; great-nice Holly (Stuart) Phillips, cousin Victor (Peg) Rea and special friends, John & Betty Noble.

Pallbearers will be, Mike Stanifer, Frank Madeline, Jeff Oetting and Daniel Reid. In addition to them, Stephen Burt and Pete Tortorici will be the other pallbearers in Columbus and Jay Vaughn and Ryan O’Neal in Montgomery. Honorary pallbearers will be John Noble, Trinity, Trinity Independent Living friends, and Lewis Fellowship Sunday School Class, First Methodist Church, Columbus, MS.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude’s Hospital, Trinity Independent Living, 300 Airline Rd, Columbus, MS 39702, First Methodist Church, 602 Main St., Columbus, MS 39701 or your local charity.