Billy Nelms Sr.

Billy A. “Papaw” Nelms Sr., went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, with his wife of 62 years by his side.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at  First Baptist Church in Fulton, with burial to follow in the Obion County Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be held at the church from 4-8 p.m. today and from 11 a.m. until hour of service Thursday.
The family requests memorials be made to the First Baptist Church Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1140, Fulton, KY 42041.
He was born Sept. 30, 1935, to Loren DeBell and Cora Sheffer Nelms.
He was the former employee and owner of Reed Brothers Feed and Seed Company in South Fulton and also worked for the Illinois Central Railroad for many years.
He was a member of Fulton First Baptist Church, where he was a deacon as well as a faithful member of the Fellowshippers Sunday School class.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He married Shirley Jean Johnson on Dec. 18,1954. She survives. He loved the Lord and served him faithfully throughout his life. He taught by example and was a testimony to everyone who knew him.
He was quick to share about Jesus and spread the love of Jesus with everyone he met. He was known for handing out quarters for “pop” and small bags of bubble gum to every child who entered the doors of Reed Brothers. He carried $2 bills in his billfold on which he had written “Jesus loves you” and handed them out to many new parents, small children and other people whom he came in contact with each day.
He was an avid hunter and trapper. He spent countless hours running his traplines with his sons and grandsons and even sharing his expertise with others in his later years. He was not only a wonderful father to his children, but was a “father” to many others by heart and not by blood.
He has one sister who survives, Joanne Nelms Valentine; was the proud father of four children, Kay (Tony) Mathias, Bubba (Holley) Nelms Jr., Ronnie (Melissa) Nelms and Connie Smith and her fiancé, Jon Meacham; and the grandfather of Bryant (Amanda) Mathias, Shaun Mathias, Charity (Malcolm) Lester, Loren Nelms, Jason (Melissa) Nelms, Jerrod (Jamie) Nelms, Trevor Ward and his fiancé, Amanda Reasons, and Carly Smith. His grandchildren by heart are Trent (Tara) Dowdy and Kassie (Ben) Hooks. He called special members of the family, “his kids that came grown,” Jere (Patty) Hughes and Joe (Janet) Dowdy. He was the great-grandfather of Katlynn Mathias, Kamrynne Mathias, Joseph Mathias, Macie Lester, Balie Lester, PJ Nelms, Jersey Nelms, Audrey Nelms, Lucy Jane Nelms, Drew Nelms, Emma Nelms, Adaline Nelms, Leo Nelms, Maggie Nelms, Chance Ward, Nevaeh Reasons and Laken Reasons. His great-grandchildren by heart are Parker and Jase Dowdy. He also is survived by many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Loren and Cora Nelms, one brother, Loren D. (Butch) Nelms Jr. and a sister, Gloria Stephens.
Published 11.15.17