Extracted from The Natchez Democrat (Natchez, MS)
Sunday, July 20, 2003

Manson Emery Nelson Sr.

April 29, 1938 - July 18, 2003

VIDALIA, La. -- Services for Manson Emery Nelson Sr., 65, of Vidalia, who died Friday, July 18, 2003, in New Orleans, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Ron Ledford officiating.

Burial will follow in New Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island under the direction of Comer Funeral Home of Ferriday.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Mr. Nelson was born April 29, 1938, in Jonesville, the son of Matthew T. and Tressie R. Nelson.

He owned Professional Carpet Cleaners in Vidalia and was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.

He was a graduate of Ferriday High School, where he played football under Coach Red Robertson on the state championship team. He also played football on the Louisiana State University football team and played on the Chinese Bandits under Coach Paul Dietzel.

He coached football in several areas around Louisiana. He held a master's degree in mathematics. He was a past president of the Concordia Parish School Board and was a lifelong resident of Concordia Parish.

Survivors include his wife, Judy C. Nelson; two sons, Manson E. Nelson Jr. and his wife, Mannie, both of Vidalia, and Doug Henthorne of Praitirsburg, W. Va.; four daughters, Dr. Debbie Guillory of Ferriday, Tracie Swilley and Diana Stafford, both of Natchez, and Joyce McCarty of Vidalia; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and five sisters, Margaret Zeagler of Sicily Island, Shirley Mortimor and Pam Nelson, both of of Baton Rouge, Katherine Smith of Prairieville and Polly Johnson of Wisner.

Pallbearers will be Manson Nelson Jr., Steve Zeagler, Steve Cutlip, Joe Smith, Raymond Zeagler, Mike McCarty, Phillip Coats and Martin ``Coot'' Swilley.

Honorary pallbearers will be deacons of Calvary Baptist Church, Tony Guillory, Coach Red Robertson, Neal Minor, Dr. Jack Rodriguez, Dr. Geoffrey Flattman, Dr. Tommy Purvis, Hubert Lee McGlothin, Pete Swilley, Shelby Zeagler and his grandsons.