Mary Eudora Otts Nelson, passed away peacefully on Easter, April 20, in Tuscaloosa. “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
On Tuesday, April 22 at 3 p.m., there was a memorial service at First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, and the burial service was held at Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to The First Presbyterian Church Greensboro, or the Church of one’s choice.
Mary Eudora, the oldest living descendant of “A Greensboro Belle” (ALABAMA HERITAGE, Issue 40, Spring 1996,) embraced the 19th century Southern maxim which asserted that a woman’s name should appear in print only three times: at her birth, upon her marriage and at her death.
Born July 15, 1937, Mrs. Nelson was the only daughter of Mary Amanda (Davis) and John Martin Philip Otts II of Greensboro, Alabama.
She married Dr. Paul Donald Nelson on Sunday, January 27, 1957, at the First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro. The 4 p.m. wedding ceremony was followed by a reception at the antebellum home of her paternal grandparents.
In addition to her husband, “Little Mary” is survived by their only daughter, Barbara Amanda Pugh of Mountain Brook; two sons, Mark Christopher Nelson and David Donald Nelson, both of Tuscaloosa; six grandchildren: and one great grandchild. She is also survived by her brother, S. McEachin Otts; six nieces and nephews, an extended family including many inlaws, and several cousins (including David Scott Hardenbergh, Jr.)
Mrs. Nelson was predeceased by her parents; two brothers: J. M. P. Otts, Jr. and William Oliver Otts; and her grandparents: Margaret Annette (Shirley) and James Walter Davis of Gordo, Alabama;
Eudora McQueen Somerville (McEachin) and Lelius McCrary Otts of both Greensboro and Tuscaloosa.
John 10:14; “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Thanks be to God for the blessing of the life of Mary Otts Nelson.
