Oliver Elliot Nelson

Oliver, affectionately known as “Junebug,” was the fourth of seven children born on June 19, 1947 at Gallinger Municipal Hospital, later renamed District of Columbia (D.C.) General Hospital, to the late Oliver and Eva Newton Nelson. During his childhood, Oliver studied hard in school and developed a love for automobiles and history. He attended DC Public Schools. He attended Langdon and Woodbridge Elementary, Taft Junior High, and Phelps Vocational High Schools. While attending Phelps, he studied auto body and played on the basketball team. He attended Prince George’s Community College where he studied Business Management.

He was united in holy matrimony to Romaine Waltina Belcher on November 14, 1966. They met on a hayride sponsored by a local church. The union was blessed with two children, Adrienne Olivia and Angela Tina.

Oliver was always a hard worker. He delivered newspapers as a young boy and began his official employment at the Embers Grill and Madison Hotel, where he developed a love for cooking. He shared stories of working with some of the finest chefs in D.C. Oliver accepted a position with the D.C. Government as a warehouseman. Later, he was also employed with the Montgomery County Liquors Warehouse, Giant Food as a warehouse manager, and Providence Hospital as a transporter. Oliver returned back to the D.C. Government as a warehouse supervisor and later retired in 2000 due to illness.

Some of Oliver’s hobbies included being a sports spectator especially of the Washington Football and the Nationals Baseball teams. He always enjoyed fishing for relaxation as his favorite sport. Oliver continued his love of automobiles, especially for his 1988 Dodge Truck. He was also a great joke teller and his family enjoyed his jokes and stories. Oliver also supported his wife in her sorority and civic organization activities and was a proud Honey-Do and Continental Guy. He was a committed member of the Church of God’s Love, pastored by The Reverend Dr. Mary Ivey, where he faithfully served until he became ill.

Oliver enjoyed his grandchildren dearly and they affectionately called him “Gran-Gran.” He enjoyed shopping for them during their early childhood years and would buy them quality clothing to include coats and shoes. For many years, Oliver enjoyed calling the children on Christmas Eve and being their “Santa Claus” as his own way of sparking anticipation and excitement.

Oliver passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 11:09 AM at his home in Washington, DC. He battled serious medical issues over the past 20 years compounded with a recent onset of COVID-19, which demonstrated his courage in facing life’s challenges with a smile. Despite the pain, Oliver came out a hero and stayed strong until the end.

Oliver is proceeded in death by his father, Oliver Nelson and mother, Eva Newton Nelson, sister, Alice Leazer-Sharps, and brother, Cary Nelson.

His memory will be cherished and kept alive by his adoring wife and longtime caregiver, Romaine Waltina, Washington, DC, daughters, Adrienne Olivia Nelson Johnson (Dr. Rossie D. Johnson), Prince George, VA, Angela Tina, Washington, DC, and his three grandchildren, Brandon, Andrea, and Alexandria. Also left to cherish his memory are his beloved sisters, Gloria Nelson and Judith Culberson, brothers, Robert and Kenneth Nelson, sister-in-law, Carolyn Pittman (Marshall), Silver Spring, MD, brother-in-law, Clifton Sharps, Harwood, MD. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family friends, and neighbors.

Services are Private with The Reverend Dr. Mary Ivey Officiating