David Honour Nelson

          FLORENCE  - David Honour Nelson, 79, died Sunday morning, May 26, 2024, after an illness.

          Graveside services with full military honors will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Florence National Cemetery, directed by Waters-Powell Funeral Home.

          He was born in Florence, a son of the late George Ansel and Eoline Teskey Nelson.  Mr. Nelson graduated from McClenaghan High School in 1963.  He attended the University of South Carolina and graduated from Florence-Darlington Technical College with an engineering degree. 

          He enlisted into the United States Marine Corp in 1966, 10th Marine, 2nd Marine Division, FMF, CLNC Hq Btry, 3d BN.  He was assigned to Communication Central Command, where he participated in several suicide missions.  During his enlistment he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnamese Service Medal with 1 star, the Viet Nam Campaign Medal (1960), the Presidential Unit Commendation, and the Sharpshooter Badge for Rifle.  He was honorably discharged achieving the rank of Lance Corporal.  A proud Marine, he was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marine Corp League, and the Veterans Honor Guard in Florence.

          Following his military career, he returned to Florence and was an engineer with Bell South and AT&T for 35 years until his retirement.

          Mr. Nelson was a member of St. John’s Anglican Church.  He was a Master Mason and Life Member of Orangeburg Lodge #12, AFM, for 51 ½ years.  He was also a member of the Omar Shrine Club.

          In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a son, David Honour Nelson, Jr.; a daughter, Christena Marie Nelson; and a granddaughter, Haley McKenzie Abstance.

          Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Jerry Carlisle Nelson, of Florence; daughter, Kathryn Honour Abstance (Joey) of Chapin, SC; grandchildren, Sydney Abstance and Luke Abstance; two sisters, Lyndon Nelson Arthur (Sam, deceased) and Diane Nelson Morris (Billy), both of Florence; cousin, Lisa Teskey Culler of Columbia; step-daughter, Buffy Blease (James) and step-son, Winford Walker (Brittany), both of Florence; step-grandchildren, Christopher Blease, Philip Blease, Brantley Walker, Leia Walker, Gabriel Walker; nieces, Tes Morris Boyette (Greg) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Tina Morris Cannon (Kevin) and Elizabeth Ann Arthur Carroll (Billy), both of Florence; and a nephew, Samuel F. “Buddy” Arthur, III (Blakely), also of Florence.

          In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospitals at https://donatelovetotherescue.org; or to St. John’s Anglican Church Summer Camp Fund, 252 S. Dargan St., Florence, SC  29506-2534.

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