Funeral services for Thomas Howard “Boots” Nelson, Sr. will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 30, 2023 at Avon Methodist Church. He died Saturday, October 28 at his home. Burial will follow in the Greenfield Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
Boots was born on April 13, 1929 in South Washington County in what was Leota, MS and was a lifelong resident of Chatham, MS. He attended Mississippi State University where he studied Engineering. His education was interrupted, when he elected to serve his Country in the United States Air Force. Upon the sudden death of his older brother, Elmo, Boots returned to the family farm in Chatham in 1956 and built a very successful farming operation and raised a beautiful family. Professionally, Boots also served many years on the Board of Directors for Production Credit Association and First South Farm Credit and ultimately was honored to end that term by serving as Chairman of the Board for First South Farm Credit.
Boots and his loving wife, Carolyn Hobart Nelson were married for 61 years, until she preceded him in death in 2019. Together they had 4 children, 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Boots and Carolyn built a life around their family and their faith. They were married in the Avon United Methodist Church in 1958 and were active members for the past 65 years. They hosted family for every Holiday each year and loved nothing more than filling the house with family for each of those occasions. It was also common for Boots and Carolyn to be in the company of their best friends, Carolyn’s brother and his wife, Chalmers and Rachel Hobart, pursuing their love of traveling together across the country or attending Mississippi State football games.
Boots is preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Hobart Nelson; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmo Graves Nelson, Sr.; brother, Elmo Graves Nelson, Jr.; sister, Virginia Shaw; sister, Anna Belle Patton; and an infant grandson, Sam King. He is survived by his children Tommy Nelson (Barbara), Lisa Nelson King (George), Melissa Nelson Lambourn (Roger), and Lori Nelson McPherson (Kent); his grandchildren, Kathryn Nelson Sharpe (Baine), Trey Nelson (Casey), Toni Lynn Nelson Horton (Clay), Boots Nelson, Walt King, Carolyn King Haynes (Chip), Caitlin King Walker (Reid), Nelson King, Robin Lambourn (Hayley), Morgan Lambourn Garrett (Grant), Dodger Lambourn (Marissa), Chase McPherson (Jordan), Meg McPherson Stalnaker (Adam), and Adam McPherson; 19 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held at the church one hour before services on Monday. Memorials may be made to the Avon Methodist Church, 38 Avon Drive N., Hollandale, MS 38748 or Greenfield Cemetery, PO Box 10, Glen Allan, MS 38744.