Jacqueline Cecelia Nelson

Jacqueline Cecelia Nelson, aka “Nannie”, was born September 8, 1933 at home in Bronx, NY to the late Leon Ignacius Ford and the late Evelyn Rebecca Green-Thomas-Ford as the sixth and last child of the Ford family. She departed this life on Tuesday, November 20, 2023 peacefully in her sleep. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Nelson; siblings, Edward Thomas, Vannoy Thomas, Moslene Thomas-Mcleon, Bernard (Agnus) Ford, and Walter (Sally) Ford; nieces, Esther Mcleon and Francine Dupree; and great niece, Tanya Dupree.

Jackie sought her education in the Bronx and then graduated from Pace University. She was baptized into the Ephesus Seventh-Day Adventist Church located in Harlem, NY in 1942. She was a member of Free Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Bronx, NY, City Tabernacle Seventh-Day Adventist Church in New York, NY, and her last house of worship was the Morris Park Seventh-Day Adventist Church located in the Bronx, NY.

As a child and into adulthood, Jackie had a beautiful and melodious Soprano voice. She often sang solos in church and played the piano as well.  She was a dedicated youth leader and loved teaching children.  They were her love.  She developed three small choirs. They were the Children’s Choir, Youth Choir, and Adult Choir.  She always said, “It was hard work, but it was a lot of fun!”

Jackie served as Sabbath School Superintendent, Sabbath School Teacher, Music Director, and Assistant Treasurer within the church.  Her last service job was 31 years with the New York State Department of Labor as an Unemployment Claims Examiner until she retired in July of 1996.

She leaves to mourn her passing to her daughter, Cecelia J. (Randolph) Ford-Thomas; granddaughter, Zabrina A. (Rolston) Thomas; great grandsons, Rashad J. Thomas and Jaquan S. Thomas; great granddaughter, Zoe A.N. Dorsett; sister-in-law, Marlene Thomas; nieces and nephews; and the Marble Hill neighbors, friends, and Community Center.

Jackie’s final testament is: “To all my children that I was blessed to cultivate in church, I often thought of you through the years and missed you all.  See you again on the great day!”

Funeral service will be held Sunday December 10, 2023 at 1pm at City Tabernacle of Seventh-Day Adventist Church in New York, NY with the viewing starting at 11am until the time of the service. Viewing will be Monday November 27, 2023 from 3pm-7pm at Dexter T. Sims Mortuary, LLC, Gainesville. The family will receive family and friends from 5pm-7pm. Burial will be in Fair Lawn Cemetery in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

Dexter T. Sims Mortuary, LLC, Gainesville, has charge of arrangements.