Earline Vandevender Nelson

Earline Vandevender Nelson, age 82, of Enterprise, AL, after a short but peaceful acceptance of cancer passed away in her home of more than 50 years on Sunday, December 15, 2019. Her son, Dean Nelson, Newnan, GA, and daughter, Anna Harrison, Wicksburg, AL, sat with Earline before and after her spirit departed along with her grandchildren.  Earline was born on January 2, 1937 to Enos and Julia Vandevender in Holly Bluff, MS. She shared a happy childhood with her brothers, Kirk Vandevender and the late Wallace Vandevender both of whom she loved very much. Prior to marriage and raising a family Earline earned a bachelor’s degree and taught school in Pascagoula, MS while completing her master’s degree, both from Mississippi College. Earline taught elementary school for 11 and half years before meeting her husband, Toney T. Nelson, a disabled U.S. Air Force veteran. She married Toney in December 26, 1969 and had two children to whom she was devoted. Throughout their childhood Earline was known and love many other children as the “classroom mom,” the “team mom” for YMCA leagues, Sunday School teacher, and the Girl Scout mom. She loved sports and was known to loudly cheer for Dean and Anna’s teams running along the sidelines. After her husband’s death in 1988, Earline transitioned back into work life as a caregiver for the mother of a family friend and then in 1991 to the secretary of Park Avenue Baptist Church. Earline was a devoted and loved member of Park Avenue and loved working there until her retirement in 2018 after almost 27 years. Earline was devoted grandmother to Jarett and Emalee Rogers, son and daughter of Anna and stepchildren of Derrick Harrison. She was with Anna as Emalee and Jarett were each welcomed in the world. Earline helped Anna as she raised Emalee and Jarett. They spent quality time with Earline growing up all living together in Enterprise while Emalee and Jarett completed high school. Emalee devoted time to taking care of “Grandma” after her retirement. Earline endured much, including loss of both parents, a brother, and a husband as well as two knee replacements, and a badly broken leg. However, Earline was also devoted to her youngest granddaughter Harper Lee Nelson, daughter of Dean and Heather Nelson, and nothing kept her from arriving first to Flowers Hospital when Harper arrived early at 26 weeks. She and the late Anita Fulford, Harper’s other grandmother, stayed at Flowers until Heather was released. Then, Earline made the long drive with Aunt Anna to visit and hold Harper as much as possible during her almost 4-month stay at the NICU at the UAB Women and Infant’s Center. Indeed, Earline was a second mother to her daughter-in-law Heather, whom she welcomed into the family by giving the diamond from her engagement ring to be the setting for Heather’s ring in 1998. Earline was a life-long Christian whose actions demonstrated her devotion. She will be remembered for having a sense of humor, loving her family, loving her church family, loving all kinds of sports, especially Auburn and Mississippi State and the Atlanta Braves. Never making it to college game, she enjoyed several Boston Celtics games at the Omni and the Braves at both stadiums with her children.  She is survived by her son, Dean Nelson and his wife Heather of Newnan, GA, and her daughter, Anna Harrison and her husband Derek of Wicksburg, AL; three grandchildren Jarett Rogers and Emalee Rogers, son and daughter of Anna Harrison, and Harper Lee Nelson, daughter of Dean and Heather Nelson. In addition, Earline is survived by her loving Brother, Kirk Vandevender of Pascagoula, MS along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.  The family wishes to thank Covenant Care Hospice for assistance during the transition from diagnosis to acceptance and release of this life. The family will have visitation from 1 PM to 2 PM on Wednesday, December 18th at Park Avenue Baptist Church. To all those who knew Earline are welcome to visit with family and each other mourn, tell stories and laugh as she would not want the occasion to be somber. Friends and family are also invited to attend a funeral service to honor Earline’s life and legacy at 2 PM on December 18th with a short graveside service to follow at Meadowlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: Park Avenue Baptist Church, 300 Park Avenue, Enterprise, AL 36330. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Earline Vandevender Nelson, please visit our flower store.