Russell Hughes (Hugh) Nelson, Jr.

Russell H. (Hugh) Nelson, Jr., 64, died Saturday, December 17, 2011. Visitation will be Sunday, December 18, 2011, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, at 11:00 a.m., Reverends Bill Martin and Lloyd Britt officiating. Burial will follow in Glen Haven Memorial Gardens in Bibb County.
Mr. Nelson was born in Hawkinsville, Georgia, on January 30, 1947. He was the son of Russell H. Nelson, Sr. and Edna Grace Stroud Nelson of Centerville. He was the Grandson of A.C. (Alfred Clayton) Nelson and Emma Jane Vaughn Nelson of Hawkinsville and Thomas Meldridge Stroud and Viola Hussey Stroud of Elba, Alabama. He was predeceased by all but his mother.

He retired after thirty-five years from Robins AFB as a civilian employee. His last position before retirement was Technical Branch Chief of the C-130 TCG. He was active in the Centerville Lions Club, joining in 1976. He held the office of President four times and was Deputy District Governor in 1985-86. He was also Region chairman three times and Zone Chairman on four different occasions. He was Lion of the Year in 1980, 1998 and 2006. In 2011, Centerville Lions Club named him their first Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow. He was a member of the Central Georgia Genealogical Society, and called First Baptist Church of Centerville his church home. A former member of the Waterford Golf Club, he also enjoyed fishing, gardening and was an avid Braves baseball fan. His family and friends were his life.
He is survived by his wife Sherrie Mixon Smith Nelson; mother, Grace S. Nelson of Centerville; son, Russell H. Nelson III and daughter-in-law Lisa of Cornelia; daughter, Lori Nelson Elble and son-in-law Steve of Warner Robins; stepson, Dustin Phillip Smith of Ringgold; daughter, Rachel Nicole Nelson of Marietta; grandchildren, Russell H. "Clay" Nelson IV and Lauren Nelson both of Cornelia, Logan Elble and Riley Elble both of Warner Robins; sister, Jayne N. Peterman and her husband Sonny of Kathleen; and brother Don N. Baisden and his wife Nancy of Okahumpka, Florida. An uncle, Paul Lloyd Stroud and his wife Peggy Carroll Stroud of Elba, Alabama also survive Mr. Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. Nelson's wish was to have donations made to the Centerville (Georgia) Lions Club to be used for the club's local Eye Glass Program, 612 Houston Lake Road, Centerville GA 31028.


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088