Gloria (Parnell) Nelson

Gloria Parnell Nelson, the red-headed Renaissance woman from Bessemer born on June 18, 1929, joined her devoted husband, Champ Forney Nelson, on the dance floor on the morning of December 28, 2022, after a brief illness. In her words, she lived a charmed ninety-three years filled with adventures in her backyard, enjoying birds, gardening and Sea-Doo rides with the grandkids, plus international junkets with friends to Scotland and countless countries where golf, casinos, good food and wine could be found. In 1951, she graduated from Birmingham Southern College with a B.A. in Music Education and taught at Fairfield High School for two years. Besides having a beautiful singing voice, she could wield an accordion and play the piano and organ. Next venture was US Steel from 1953 to 1958, where she met Forney and started a family.

After raising two girls and driving them ad nauseum to dance classes, she joined Haywood Realty from 1972 to 1982, rising to Sales Manager, and after getting her fill of weekend work associated with success, she and her sister, Judy, started a house cleaning service. After selling that company, she dove into calligraphy classes culminating in the presidency of the Birmingham Calligraphy Guild and selling her work to designers, companies, the Civil Rights Museum and others for over thirty years. Her family treasures the beautiful pieces she created for her grandchildrens’ births and individual, original gifts.

Gloria and Forney were long-time members of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, where she sang in the choir and was a member of the Merry Players, who made their own puppets for delightful shows. Never one to skip a gathering with friends, she loved her Crescent Club, their supper club and playing golf at Vestavia Country Club. She won so many plates and awards that she finally quit playing tournaments.

Although a quiet woman of dignity avoiding the spotlight, Mooma left an indelible impact on all of those who knew her, especially her grandchildren who were drawn to her spirit, unconditional love, humor and wisdom. Her daughters were blessed with an excellent Mom role model, who taught us all how to face adversity with backbone and open arms.

She leaves behind daughters, Page Nelson Stabler (husband, Alan Stabler), and Kelly Spetalnick (husband, Tom Spetalnick); grandchildren, Samuel Nelson Spetalnick (wife, Ava Spetalnick), Molly Spetalnick (partner, Oliver Atkinson), Zach Weidman, Savannah Weidman (partner, Alex Randau); great-granddaughter, Eliana Grace Spetalnick; sisters, Linda Parnell and Judy Wood; nephew, Shannon Wood; cousin, Betsy Roff. Her deceased parents were Zach B. Parnell and Connie J. Parnell.

The family would like to offer special thanks to Cahaba Ridge Retirement Community and the doctors and staff at Grandview Medical Center.

We will celebrate her life all of our days while honoring her request of no memorial or service. If desired to honor her memory, please consider a donation to Children’s Harbor in Alexander City, AL, Jimmie Hale Mission in Birmingham, or Church of the Ascension.

Raise a glass of red wine, have some dark chocolate and keep telling her stories. Keep hitting ‘em straight, Mooma.