Obituary: WILLIAM BERKLEY NELSON

William Berkley Nelson, 73, left this earthly life on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at Baptist Hospital Palliative Care.

The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2023 in the Colonial Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Nathan DeFalco officiating. Interment will follow in Woodland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday at Colonial Funeral Home in Madison and all other times at the home.

Mr. Nelson, also known by his family as either “Paw Paw, Pop’s, or Boss Man,” was born on August 26, 1949 in Stokes County, but was a native of Rockingham County. William was the son of the late Moir Berkley Nelson and Virginia Lawson Nelson.

Mr. Nelson retired from the business he opened in 1970, Nelson Home Improvement, for which he ran for 53 years. He was a skilled carpenter and well known by hundreds of customers throughout the Madison / Mayodan area.

He had a deep love for wood working. Each of his children and grandchildren have beautiful hand crafted furniture that he built in his wood shop and gave to them on special occasions. The project he was most proud of was his home in Madison that he custom built, with cabinetry he made in his wood shop. Most recently he completed a total renovation on a farm house belonging to his grandson, Wesley.

He will always be remembered for his deep love for his family, friends and especially his grandchildren. He loved racing, in which he devoted his life to. He had a passion for restoring and collecting clocks and Aladdin Oil Lamps. He was famous by neighbors, friends and family for his annual Brunswick stews held at his home.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the love of his life of fifty-seven years, Doris Jean Nelson; sisters, Lois Bright and Judy Stone; brothers, Elwood Nelson, Delance Nelson, Otis Nelson, and Doug Nelson and one step-grandchild, Jamie Hanson.

Survivors include his children, Debra Morton, Rebecca Tate (Lee), Rachel Nelson, William Michael Nelson (Kayla); step-children, Glenn Labounty (Crystal McMillon) and Donna Hanson; grandchildren, Abbie Nelson, Eli Nelson, Wesley Tate, Christine Williams, Kevin Morton; step-grandchildren, Robert Hanson, Sabrina Hanson and Brianna Labounty and ten great-grandchildren.

Colonial Funeral Home in Madison is serving the family.

Condolences may be offered to the Nelson family at www.colonialfh.net.

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