Sally Wilson Nelson

Silver Dollar Sally was born in Hinton, WV on July 27, 1943, to James Norman Wilson and Georgia Miller Wilson. Her father was so happy to have a daughter, he paid the hospital bill in silver dollars.

After graduating high school as valedictorian, Sally made her way across the state to Marshall University, where she met her husband, Dan Nelson. They eventually moved to New Orleans, LA, where they raised their family until retirement in 1997.

While in New Orleans, Sally worked as a church secretary at Aurora United Methodist Church, sang in the choir, played in the bell choir, performed in musicals, tutored young children, visited nursing homes, and enjoyed life with her family and friends.

Upon retirement, Sally and Dan moved to Peachtree City, where Sally continued to find ways for her servant’s heart to bring peace and comfort to others. She organized “Joyful Noise,” a group of choir members from Peachtree City United Methodist Church who visited assisted living centers and nursing homes to bring the joy of music to residents. She coordinated the Cheer Cart at Fayette Piedmont Hospital, participated in, and supported the Walk to End Alzheimer's for over 20 years and brought her kindness, sweet spirit, and calming presence to everyone she met through many other volunteer efforts as well. In 2012, she was honored with the “Excellence in Community Service” award from the Daughters of the American Revolution in Fayette County.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, the late Reverend John Norman Wilson and sister-in-law, Emily Wilson.

Those who are left to cherish her memory include husband, Daniel Nelson of Peachtree City; son, Michael (Michele) of Franklin, TN; daughter, Donna (Dwayne) of Madison, MS; granddaughter, Alicia of Chapel Hill, NC; grandson, Zachary (Bryley) of Athens, AL; brother, Don Wilson; niece, Donna Ratliff (Bill) of Canton, GA; sister-in-law, Sally Wilson of Wilson, NC; nephew, John Wilson (Lisa) of Raleigh, NC; and nephews, Kent and Todd Wilson of Canton, GA.

The service to celebrate Sally’s life will be held at Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home, 135 Senoia Road in Peachtree City, GA 30269, on February 10, 2026. Visitation will take place from 9:30am -11:00am with the service beginning at 11:00am, in the chapel. Sally will be interred at Westminster Memorial Gardens, 2090 Highway 54 West, Peachtree City, GA 30269, following the service.

In lieu of flowers please consider a gift in memory of Sally to the Alzheimer’s Association of GA at https://www.alz.org/georgia or mail to the Alzheimer's Association Georgia Chapter, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite #550, Atlanta, GA 30346 or by phone at 404-728-1181.

We wish to thank the outstanding and compassionate caregivers of Hope Center Memory Care in Fayetteville, GA as well as Southern Grace Hospice and Ashley Glen, all of whom took care of Sally over the past few years.