A Life Not Wasted

Here is an obituary that really stood out to me. Several of you at HHBC are familiar with this man. I just appreciated that he never finished running his race. This man did not retire. He just moved from one place of ministry to another. May God be so gracious to us that we don't quit our race so near the finish line...

Reverend Dr. Thomas W. Nelson

January 16, 1913 - June 09, 2009

Service: 10:00 am Saturday, June 13, 2009

First Baptist Church

Visitation: 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm Friday

Freeman Mortuary

THE REVEREND DR. THOMAS W. NELSON, AGE 96 YEARS, A LONGTIME JEFFERSON CITY RESIDENT, DIED TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2009 AT THE BAPTIST HOME IN OZARK, MO.

TOM WAS BORN JANUARY 16, 1913 IN HAMILTON, MISSISSIPPI THE SECOND OF SEVEN CHILDREN OF CHARLES AND T. WILLIE NELSON.

HE WAS EDUCATED IN BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL, BELMONT, MISSISSIPPI, THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AND SOUTHWESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. HE WAS AWARDED HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREES BY WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE AND SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY.

A WORLD WAR II VETERAN, HE SERVED THREE YEARS AS A CHAPLAIN WITH SERVICE IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE.

HIS PASTORATES INCLUDE THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF PINCKNEYVILLE, ILLINOIS, THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MARION, ILLINOIS, AND THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF JEFFERSON CITY, MO. IN ADDITION, HE SERVED AS INTERIM PASTOR AT OVER THIRTY BAPTIST CHURCHES IN MISSOURI.

HE SERVED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSOURI BAPTIST FOUNDATION FOR SIXTEEN YEARS, RETIRING IN 1978. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, HE SERVED AS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSOURI BAPTIST CONVENTION. HE ALSO SERVED AS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSOURI BAPTIST FOUNDATION AFTER RETIREMENT.

HE WAS MARRIED ON NOVEMBER 6, 1938 TO MISS FLORA SPARKS OF JASPER, ALABAMA, WHO PRECEDED HIM IN DEATH ON JUNE 13, 2008, AFTER OVER SIXTY-NINE YEARS OF MARRIAGE. HE IS SURVIVED BY THREE CHILDREN; JIM NELSON AND HIS WIFE SHARON OF JEFFERSON CITY, MO., STEVE NELSON OF JEFFERSON CITY, MO. AND JAN JACKMAN AND HER HUSBAND SCOTT OF OZARK, MO.; A BROTHER, DAVID A. NELSON AND HIS WIFE JO OF OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY; TWO GRANDCHILDREN, BRENT JACKMAN OF OZARK, MO. AND KIMBERLY DUNLAP AND HER HUSBAND SCOTT OF JOPLIN, MO.; TWO TWIN GREAT GRANDDAUGHTERS, BAYLEE AND BROOKLYNN JACKMAN OF OZARK, MO., AND A GREAT GRANDSON, CAEDMON DUNLAP OF JOPLIN, MO.

HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY ONE SON, JOHN, TWO BROTHERS, J.C. AND GRANT, AND THREE SISTERS, T. WILLIE, GRACE, AND MARY LOUISE.

FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE CONDUCTED AT 10:00 AM SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2009 AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH WITH THE REVEREND DR. DOYLE SAGER OFFICIATING. GRAVESIDE SERVICES AND INTERMENT WILL BE CONDUCTED AT HAWTHORN MEMORIAL GARDENS.

VISITATION WILL BE AT FREEMAN MORTUARY FROM 4:00 UNTIL 7:00 PM FRIDAY.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE TO THE BAPTIST HOME, P.O. BOX 87, IRONTON, MO. 63650. UNLESS OTHERWISE DESIGNATED, GIFTS WILL GO TO THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF MERCY, A HOME FOR THE DESTITUTE ELDERLY IN BELARUS.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF FREEMAN MORTUARY.