Nelle Strozier Moseley

Dr. Nelle Strozier Moseley devoted her life to the practice of medicine, drawn both by a deep commitment to helping others and by an abiding intellectual curiosity about the science and art of medical care. Known for her sharp wit and keen mind, she approached life with energy, purpose, and a distinctive sense of humor. While her professional life was central to who she was, she took great joy in her family—her husband, children, and grandchildren—who remained a constant source of pride and delight throughout her life. She died on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

Raised in Oxford, Georgia, Nelle was born on March 3, 1932, to the late Walton and Mary Nell Strozier. From an early age, she expressed a clear determination to become a physician. A trailblazing doctor whose pursuit of medicine in the 1950s defied expectations for women of her generation, she followed this path with remarkable intelligence, competitive drive, and independence.

She graduated from Duke University with a degree in Zoology and went on to earn her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, where she was one of only two women in her class. She completed pediatric and internal medicine residencies at Duke University and Grady Hospital in Atlanta, followed by a research appointment at Johns Hopkins. She later returned to Duke for an endocrinology fellowship.

While at Duke, she met the love of her life, fellow resident Dr. Robert Moseley. They married on July 5, 1962, in Duke Chapel and settled in Raleigh, where she would leave an enduring professional and personal legacy.

Nelle devoted more than 25 years of her medical career to the Murdoch Development Center providing compassionate care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She was a fierce advocate for this vulnerable population and their families. In recognition of her extraordinary service, she was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor.

Beyond medicine, Nelle lived life with humor, grit, and boundless energy. An active member of North Raleigh United Methodist Church since the early 1970s, she also loved tennis, travel, and working in “her woods.” Well into her late eighties, she could be found cutting firewood or mowing the pasture on her John Deere tractor!

She embraced life fully and loved her family deeply. She was unapologetically herself—direct, honest, and unwavering in her convictions, but always open to discussion. She relished thoughtful debate and believed that exchanging ideas was essential to understanding and progress.

Nelle is survived by her son, Walton Moseley, MD, and his wife Susan of Charleston, SC; her daughter Nelle Schantz and her husband Stuart of Raleigh; and her grandchildren Zachary Kuthe and his wife Maggie Borden, Katherine, Walton, and Elizabeth Moseley, and Elle and Samantha Schantz.

A Celebration of Nelle’s life will be held Monday, December 22, 2025 at 11:00 am at North Raleigh United Methodist Church, 8501 Honeycutt Rd., Raleigh NC 27615. Her family will receive friends following the service at the church.

Memorials may be sent to North Raleigh United Methodist Church, 8501 Honeycutt Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615 or a charity of your choice.