Rev. W. Harold Nelson, of Clanton, AL, passed from this earth into the presence of his Lord and Savior, on 11 Oct 2026 at 5:54 pm CT. He was the oldest son of John and Minnie Nelson, born 12 March 1940 in a one room house off Highway 22 in Clanton, AL, not far from the old Baker School where he attended elementary school. He was a 1958 graduate of Chilton County High School. He accepted God’s call to ministry in his early 20’s and served as a bi-vocational pastor over a period of 49 years. He married Peggy Sue Smith on 18 May 1962 and they were married for over 60 years at the time of her death in September 2022. The most important things in his life were serving his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a minister of the gospel, and his family. He had 2 children, 4 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren.

Brother Harold, as many called him, started as pastor of his first church in May of 1966 and pastored 6 different churches from May 1966 to April 2015: Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church (Maplesville, AL), Hillcrest Baptist Church (Maplesville, AL), Highland Baptist Church (Clanton, AL), Corinth Missionary Baptist Church (Verbena, AL), Maple Springs Baptist Church (Clanton, AL), and Big Springs Baptist Church (Billingsley, AL). He only retired in April 2015 at the age of 75 due to a stroke, after which he was no longer able to drive. He felt God’s call on his life was to pastor small churches who could not afford to support a full-time pastor.

Harold was also a small-engine mechanic, working many years for his father-in-law at Smith Lawn & Garden Supply and later opening his own small business, Harold’s Small Engines, on First Avenue in downtown Clanton. After closing his business he worked at A & D Distributors, first in Montgomery and later in Wetumpka, until the age of 75. He grew up on a farm and learned the meaning and value of hard work at an early age. Growing up on a farm he learned to do a lot of different things and throughout his life, while his physical health allowed, he never paid anyone to do something he could do himself.

He was a founding member of the Clanton Evening Lions Club where he served in several officer positions, including President, and was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Award, the highest recognition bestowed by the Lions Clubs International Foundation.

He was preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years, Peggy Sue Smith Nelson; his parents, John William and Minnie Bice Nelson; and his brothers, Bennie Donald and Earl McRay Nelson.

He is survived by his son Jeffrey (Lisa) Nelson of Hixson, TN and his daughter, Jennifer (Ricky) Kendrick of Clanton, AL; Grandchildren: Emily Nelson, Julie (Josh) McNeal, Matthew Nelson, and Kevin (Jasmine) Kendrick; and Great-Grandchildren: Owen Kendrick, Sawyer McNeal, Madisyn McNeal, Gunner McNeal, Lyric Kendrick, and Laynei Kendrick.

Pallbearers will be Ricky Kendrick, Kevin Kendrick, Steve Yeargan, Jeremy Mims, Josh McNeal, and Alan Davenport.

Visitation will be at Martin Funeral Home on Oct 14 from 5:00-7:00 pm and on Oct 15 from 10:00-11:00 am.

Funeral service will be on Oct 15 at 11:00 am in the Martin Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside service and burial at Martin Memorial Cemetery following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the Clanton Lions Club.