Dennis Nelson Taylor

Nelson was born in Lexington, South Carolina, on January 30, 1940, and raised by a single mother. During high school, he played football for the mighty Brookland-Cayce Bearcats and worked at Ed’s Car Hop, where he proudly held the title of Chief Soda Jerk.

After graduation, Nelson joined the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Hammerberg where he was responsible for maintaining the ship’s electrical systems. He was a loyal friend to his fellow sailors and often spoke of the bonds he formed during his service — friendships that lasted the rest of his life.

Following his first four-year enlistment, Nelson returned home intending to re-enlist, but God had other plans. He met Carole, married her within six months, and was called into the ministry. He earned his undergraduate degree and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and went on to serve for more than 25 years as a minister at churches in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Columbia, South Carolina, and in Huntsville, Alabama. As a pastor, he was known most for his sound teaching, taking the principles of Scripture to make them practical, and devotion to serving everyone in his care.

Nelson’s legacy is one of profound faith in God and deep knowledge of Scripture. He loved his family fiercely, especially his three daughters, and in retirement he continued to serve his community in many ways — most recently through Kairos Prison Ministry, where he faithfully ministered to prisoners and to families impacted by incarceration. Whether someone had known Nelson for decades or had only just met him, he was remembered above all for his kindness to everyone.

Proverbs 13:22 says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” Nelson’s legacy will be that he walked in faith, forgiveness, selflessness, and generosity — and that he left his children and grandchildren with a lasting knowledge of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness.

He was preceded in death, and met at heaven’s gates, by his wife of 56 years, Carole, and his grandson, Austin Whetsell of Lexington.

He is survived by his daughters, Kim Whetsell (Walter), Melanie Butz (Bryan), and Kelly Eastergard (Marc); his grandchildren, Megan Eastergard, Taylor Vaughan, Trace Whetsell, Amy Butz, Jack Butz, and Emma Ellison; and his great-grandchildren, Natalie Taylor Ellison and Millie Claire Vaughan.

The family will receive visitors at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home (Lexington Chapel), 503 North Lake Drive, Lexington, at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, 2026 with a memorial service to follow at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Kairos Prison Ministry, 100 DeBary Plantation Blvd., DeBary, FL 32713, or to the Lexington Presbyterian Church, Austin Whetsell Memorial Fund, 137 Heron Ln., Gilbert, SC 29054.