Pierce Leonard Nelson, 94, of Ocilla, Georgia, passed away peacefully Saturday, November 20, 2021 at Tift Regional Medical Center, in Tifton Georgia.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M, Monday, November 22, 2021, at Ocilla Baptist Church, with the Rev. George Carroll Paulk and the Rev. Billy Stephens officiating. Interment will follow in the Lax cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from, 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M., at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mr. Nelson was born August 15, 1927, in Floyd County, Georgia, to the late Grady B. & Edna Lucile Elrod Nelson. He graduated in 1945 from McHenry High School in Rome, Georgia and attended Georgia Southwestern in Americus. Mr. Nelson served his country honorably in the United States Army Air Corps, which later became the United States Air Force. He served during WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam, retiring after 20 years of service as an E6. Mr. Nelson worked for Irwin County Emergency Medical Service for 20 years, and several years in TV sales and service for Ocilla TV Service. He was a member of the American Legion post 100, Ocilla Masonic Lodge #134 and Knights Templar. Mr. Nelson was a member of the Ocilla Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. He also taught Sunday School at the Palemon Gaskins Memorial Nursing Home. He will be most remembered by the children of Irwin County by his gracious gifting of gold coins through out the years.
He is survived by a step-son, Allen (Margaret) Sweatt; step-daughter, Gail (Bernd) Toro; three step-grandchildren: Kelli (Brooks) Mckay, Kristen Toro, Bernd (Ashley) Toro, five step-great grandchildren: Britt Mckay, Jake Mckay, Parker Toro, Cannon Toro, and Lacey Toro. Several nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wives: Juanita Nelson and Virginia Hudson Nelson.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Masonic Lodge #134, or to Ocilla Baptist Church building fund.