Jud R. Nelson

Jud R. Nelson passed away Monday afternoon June 6th at the Gordon Health Care Center. Jud, as he was known by family and friends, was 99 years old. He was born June 23, 1911 in Cherokee County, the son of the late Bill and Cleo Nelson. Jud was a long-time resident of Gordon County, living in Sugar Valley for 75 years. Besides his parents Jud was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 44 years, Jennie Padgett Nelson, three brothers, Amos, Dewitt, and Roby Nelson and four sisters; Ozella Nelson, Susie Nelson Langston, Grace Nelson Patterson and Aurelia Nelson Gilreath. Jud worked as a builder, woodworker, and cabinetmaker for many years in Gordon County. His skill as a wagon builder was recognized in the Foxfire 9 folklore book. He also had a blacksmith shop where he worked on a regular basis into his 90s. He was known and recognized by many for his appearances at area fairs, craft shows, and events where he would demonstrate the traditional craft of blacksmithing. In 1981 he was invited by the Smithsonian Institute to demonstrate his blacksmithing at their annual Festival of American Folklore. In 1970 he was a founding member of ABANA, the Artists and Blacksmiths Association of North America and hosted several of their meetings at his Sugar Valley home. Jud was a Royal Arch Seventh Degree Mason, having served as the Past Master of the Hill City Masonic Lodge. He was also a charter member of the Sugar Valley Masonic Lodge and was presented his 65 year Masonic membership apron and pin in 2008. Jud was a member of the Sugar Valley United Methodist Church where he served on the Building committee and as a Trustee. Jud was survived by three sons: Rev. Padgett Nelson and his wife Yvonne of Marietta. Jim Nelson and his wife Annette of Marietta, and Ron Nelson and his wife Mary of Johnson City, Tennessee, six grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. Services for Mr. Nelson will be conducted Thursday June 9th at 10:30am from the chapel of Thomas Funeral Home located at 535 Red Bud Road, Calhoun, Georgia. Services will be lead by Rev. Padgett Nelson and Dr. Bert Vaughn. Burial will follow with Masonic Rites in Fain Cemetery. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers and include: Lt. Col. Jay Nelson, Bill Nelson, Mike Nelson, Benny Burdette, Dr. Mike Garrett, and Brent Goolsby, and close family friends George Hutchinson and Mitchell Hutchinson. The family will receive friends Thursday morning at the funeral home from 9am until the funeral hour. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations may be made to the Sugar Valley United Methodist Church % Jenny Hensly, 1219 Old Rome-Dalton Road, NW., Calhoun, Georgia 30701 in honor of Jud R. Nelson or to the charity of their choice. The family wishes to thank the staff of Gordon Health Care for their kind and attentive care and all those who shared the warmth of his smile, the appreciations of his talents, and enjoyed sharing stories with him through the years. Thomas Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.