TupeloBetty Jean Cole Nelson, 82, died Thursday, February 07, 2013, at the Baldwyn Nursing Facility after an extended illness. A native of Itawamba County, she was born October 27, 1930, to Dee and Alma Clayton Cole. She graduated from Mooreville High School where she was a member of the state championship basketball team. For nearly 30 years she worked as a sales clerk at Super D Drug Store. She was a member of West Jackson Street Baptist Church and enjoyed reading and sewing.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with her grandson-in-law, Rev. Rickey Kelly, officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.

Survivors include four daughters, Gail Mattox (Edwin) of Belden, Cheryl Park (Terry) of Tupelo, Jean Vails (Wayne) of Saltillo and Melissa Smith (Jerry) of Fulton; her son, Wayne Johnson of Tupelo; ten grandchildren, Terri Smith (Pat) of Saltillo, Scott Mattox (Michelle) of Saltillo, Angie Kelly (Rev. Rickey Kelly) of Booneville; Dennis Park (Rhonda) of Tupelo, April George (David) of Tupelo, Alicia Johnson of Tupelo, Wendi McFerrin (Stacy) of Tupelo, Quinton Vails of Saltillo, Jessica Smith (Michael) of Pontotoc and Brent Smith of Fulton; 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband Herbert Nelson; her first husband and the father of her children, Truman Johnson; two brothers, Memory Cole and Dee Witt Cole; and two sisters, Mildred Barnett and Nell Comer.

Pallbearers will be Dennis Park, Scott Mattox, Quinton Vails, David George, Kyle Park, Brandon Smith, and Brent Smith

Visitation will be noon to service time at the funeral home.