Zelda M. Nelson

    Zelda M. Nelson was born on June 20, 1966 to Carrie Rutledge-Milton and Willie Nelson. She was called home on Saturday November 6, 2021. Zelda accepted Christ at an early age and served on the usher board, Red Circle, and Young Adult Choir at Union Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Clyde Adams. She later joined True Love Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Jessie White.

    Zelda graduated from Snider High School and worked at Fort Wayne Community Schools as well as Lutheran Hospital. She later went on to work at Cornerstone Christian Prep until her health began to fail her. 

    She was a very special person who enjoyed life, family, and friends and was often called the life of the party. She would joke, laugh, dance, and when it was all over, she would stay and help you clean up. She was many things to many people. She was mom, cousin, aunt, and her close friends called her sister. She was truly loved by all that knew her and although she lived a full life, she will be greatly missed by family and friends.

    Zelda will be lovingly remembered by her children, Michael and Kha'Mara Nelson of Fort Wayne, IN and ZaHara Nelson of Chicago, IL; her parents, Carrie Rutledge-Milton and Willie Nelson; her brother, William "Moonie" Bates; her step-sister, Linda Hines and 11 grandchildren, all of Fort Wayne, IN, along with her loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. 

    She was preceded in death by her grandparents, JW and Zadie M. Johnson, Emerson Nelson, Lucille Howard, and Catherine Gentry.

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