Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.
Nelson was born a left-brained thinker in Elizabeth City, North Carolina to Haywood and
Dorthey Simons.
From an early age, he had a hunger for learning. He attended CAMDEN HIGHSCHOOL, and
continued his education at N.C. STATE, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
Being the total learning party animal that he was, he then got his PHD and Master’s Degree at
the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in upstate New York.
He married right-brained thinker Charlayne Grimes on JANUARY 21, 1966. From Charlayne,
Nelson learned “humor”, developing a famously dry, Bob Newhart-like wit (a rarity for
engineers). Through 54 years of marriage, and a strong Christian faith as their foundation, their
left and right minds became one.
Nelson taught Electrical Power engineering at North Eastern University, then worked at General
Electric in Schenectady for 23 years. During this time, he was blessed with two brilliantly
amazing children (Wendy & Brent) and continued his education as a student of the Bible, a
beloved Sunday school teacher, and (surprising to many) a Tae Kwon Do second degree black
belt.
Nelson eventually took a job at ABB in Raleigh, North Carolina. In October 2002, he received an
opportunity to travel to Beijing, China to finish the last three years of his career. For Nelson and
his wife Charlayne, it was the adventure of a lifetime...or so they thought.
That would come when they became grandparents to Emily and Adam, who both inherited their
grandmother’s sense of humor, as well as their grandfather’s enthusiastic curiosity toward
learning.
One needed only to see his eyes while his grandchildren were in the room to know that Nelson,
though a man of many accomplishments, was most proud of the family he made.
Nelson is survived by his brother Brian, his wife Charlayne, his two children Brent and Wendy,
and his two equally brilliantly amazing grandchildren Emily and Adam.
The funeral service at Lost Mountain Baptist Church will be announced at a future date.
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