ELIAS COTTRELL "E C" NELSON

Obituary For ELIAS "E C" COTTRELL NELSON

SERVICE

Saturday, November 8, 2025

11:00 AM

St. John Baptist Church

Pastor JaVoski Ervin

Rev. Mark A. Booker, Eulogist

BURIAL

Rosemont Cemetery

Elias (E.C.) Nelson, Jr. was born in Harlington, Cameron County, Texas on January 20, 1929 to the union of Elias Cottrell Nelson, Sr. and Elvira Geter Nelson. His parents preceded him in death in 1946 and 2001 respectively.

In 1942, at the age of 13, E.C.'s parents sent him to live with his paternal grandmother, Lula Geter Hubbard, in Wichita Falls to attend school because there were no Negro schools in the segregated Harlington during this time. He lived with "Mama Lula" nine months out of the year until he graduated from the historic Booker T. Washington High School in 1945. The 6-foot-2 E.C. and his three older brothers (J.F., Charley, and Richard) played football for the Washington Leopards. The brothers attended "Booker T" from about 1935 to 1945.

E.C. studied Mechanic Arts for one year at Prairie View A&M University. Sadly, in 1946, his father, a cotton corn press operator, passed away at the age of 50. E.C. was then forced to quit school to go to work. Returning to Wichita Falls in 1946, E.C. initially found work as a stock clerk and janitor for a local shoe store.

E.C. met the love of his life, Sarah English, when she moved to Wichita Falls in 1948. She too attended Prairie View A&M as an Arts & English major, but they did not know each other in school. They were married on November 24, 1949 and were married for over 56 years when she went to be with the Lord in 2006. They were blessed with two children, Iris and Carlton.

On October 19, 1949, E.C. began his long career at Huff's Furniture Galleries-about two years after the store opened. He started as a deliveryman and janitor and worked his way up to become the store's warehouse manager. He met many friends and future customers in this position, known by them only as "Nelson." After 29 years as the warehouse manager, E.C. joined Huff's sales staff in 1979. He treated his customers well which resulted in a lot of repeat business. "Making a person feel at ease…helping a customer make a decision…these are the rewards for me," he said in a 1995 TIMES RECORD NEWS article. He went on to say that "I'm at retirement age, but I have no desire to stop working. I don't know when I will retire, but I'm not even thinking about it right now." This is emblematic of E.C.'s strong work ethic. E.C. also handled some buying for the high-end furniture store. He attended furniture markets and shows in Dallas four times each year and studied furniture processes at the Century Furniture Factory in Hickory, North Carolina, becoming an expert in furniture styles, fabrics, and construction. E.C. finally retired from Huff Furniture Galleries in 1998 after 49 years of extraordinary service, receiving numerous honors and awards for his talent as Huff's top salesman.

E.C. and Sarah were active members in the community, serving on numerous committees and sponsoring youth activities. E.C. also served as the financial secretary for the Booker T. Washington Alumni Association for many years.

E.C. was baptized at an early age in Harlingen. He later became a member of St. John's Baptist Church in Wichita Falls where he continued to serve as a trustee.

E.C. was loved tremendously by his extended family, life-long friends, and community. He leaves to mourn his daughter Iris Thompson, son and daughter-in-law Carlton & Monica Nelson, four grandchildren, ten great-grand-children, one great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.