Elaine Eloise Nelms

September 14, 1925 to March 26, 2024

Elaine Bryant Nelms of Orlando, Florida passed peacefully at the age of 98 on March 26 at VITAS Hospice Suites at Orlando Lutheran Towers with her family by her side.

Elaine was born in Black Oak, Arkansas on September 14, 1925, the eldest of four children of the late Roy and Deallie (Summers) Bryant. Her family moved to Brookland, Arkansas in 1940 where she graduated as salutatorian from Brookland High School. She earned a BSE in Business Education from Arkansas State University and then embarked on her teaching career at Dixie High School in Lake City, Arkansas. She was married to Harold Dean Nelms of Brookland in 1951 for almost 71 years until his passing in 2022.

Elaine moved to Orlando with Harold and their three children in 1959, where she taught business classes at Colonial High School while earning an MSE in Business Education from Rollins College. After retiring from teaching she sold real estate in Orlando until 1990. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pine Castle for over 50 years and taught the Senior Women’s Sunday school class until she lost her eyesight due to macular degeneration.

Elaine enjoyed homemaking, gardening, studying the Bible, and spending time with family and friends. She especially cherished family gatherings and “couch conferences” with her grandchildren.

Elaine is survived by her three children Renee (Mike) Smith, Russell (Terry) Nelms, and Rodney (Denise) Nelms; five grandchildren Ally (Scott) Wyatt, Steven Nelms, Jenna (Ryan) McKnight, Kristin Nelms, and Anna (Alex) Ifkovits; and two great-grandchildren Dawson and Ada Wyatt. She is predeceased in death by her husband Harold, sisters Bo Peep Graham and Wyveta Groves, and brother Roy Boy Bryant.

Services

April 04, 2024

Generations Church for Orlando

1001 Hoffner Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32809.

Visitation 12:30 p.m.

Service 1:30 p.m.

Glen Haven Memorial Park

2300 Temple Drive

Winter Park, Florida 32789

Burial 3:30 p.m.