Patricia Ann Nelson, age 83, of Hamilton, Georgia passed away on Thursday January 23, 2020 at her home. A visitation for family and friends for Patricia will be held Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Striffler-Hamby, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA 31907. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m., and burial will occur at Parkhill Cemetery, thereafter.
Patricia was born September 9, 1936 in West Palm Beach, Florida to the late Agnes Andersen Nelson and Henry Earl Nelson. She was number thirteen of fourteen siblings. Patricia came from humble beginnings to become a women’s basketball coach at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. She attended Young-Harris and later Georgia College for Women. After a successful career at Shorter, she began teaching in the DeKalb County Board of Education, until her retirement. Patricia led a full life, in her younger years she was a lifeguard. She taught swimming at Callaway Gardens and was asked on many occasions to chaperone several of the Callaway children when on different outings on holiday from school. Into her later years, she enjoyed the outdoors and building birdhouses, going fishing, and caring for her brothers and sisters when they came to be sick, until their deaths. Those who knew her loved her, and her memory will live on through them.
Patricia "Pat" was preceded in death by her parents, Agnes Andersen and Henry Earl Nelson; 13 siblings; a great niece and a niece. She is survived by three nieces, three nephews, one great niece, and five great nephews, and close family friend, Dottie Lee, from Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Nelson family.
