Funeral Arrangements and Story Regarding Rex Nelon
HAROLD TIMMONS
Visitation will on Sunday, January 30 from 1:00-5:00PM at Williamson
County Memorial Funeral Home, 3009 Columbia Ave., Franklin, TN
(Telephone 615-794-2289) Funeral services will be held Monday, January
31, 11:00AM Central time at Christ Church, on Old Hickory Blvd.,
Brentwood, TN. The body will then be taken to Marietta, GA. On
Tuesday, February 1, may view from noon until 2:00PM Eastern Time at the
Winkenhoffer Chapel at the GA Memorial Gardens, 2000 Cobb Pkwy,
Marietta, GA (Telephone 770-432-0771). The service will be at 2:00PM.
Nelon suffered a heart attack and died in his hotel room in London,
England on Sunday, January 23rd at 11:00PM EST. His wife, Judy was with
him, as they and other Southern Gospel Music performers were on a
Gaither Tour, with performances in Ireland and England. He was 68,
after just having a birthday on January 19th and had no previous history
with heart problems..
He is survived by his mother, Marietta Nelon of Asheville, NC., a sister
Judy Hyler, his wife, Judy Nelon of Nashville, TN, one daughter, Kelly
Nelon, of Marietta GA, one son, Mr. and Mrs. Todd (Rhonda) Nelon, of
Powder Springs, GA, and 5 grandchildren, Amber and Autumn Thompson, and
Jordan, Ashley, and Shelby Nelon of GA.
Rex was one of the most respected men in Southern Gospel Music, and his
many years of service as Christian, a performer, a businessman, and an
industry leader have greatly paved the way for Southern Gospel Music
that we enjoy today. To millions he was a great and beloved bass
singer. To his late wife, Shirley, and to Judy, he was a great husband.
To his children, Kelly and Todd, he was a great father, and to his
grandchildren, he was a great grandparent. To all who came to came to
know him more closely, he was well loved and and admired and he was
everyone's friend.
Rex grew up in Asheville, NC, and in the early days sang with local
groups of the day. His professional career began in the 50's with the
Homeland Harmony Quartet, and then the joined The LeFevres, one of the
oldest and most respected groups in our business. He was the bass
singer for The LeFevres for some twenty years, and eventually bought the
group and managed the group. With the gradual passing and retirement of
the LeFevre names, Rex changed the name to The Rex Nelon Singers, which
later evolved to The Nelons. For over two decades we have enjoyed the
wonderful music of Rex Nelon and The Nelons, and he continued to always
surrounded himself with wonderful discovered talents. He retired from
The Nelons a short time back, but continued to travel regularly with the
Bill Gaither's Homecoming Friends concerts. He was heavily involved in
publishing, and owned LeFevre-Sing Music, Rex Nelon Music, Goss
Brothers Music, Stoker Music, and several other companies, collectively
holding thousands of copyrighted songs. He was a board member for The
National Quartet Convention and was involved in many other aspects of
the music industry. He was also a business partner with me in Memory
Lane Gospel.
While we do not understand and we all are at an earthly loss here today,
another seat has been filled in the great Heavenly Choir. Rex has
assembled with R. W. Blackwood, Bill Lyles, J. D. Sumner, Brock Speer,
D. P. "Dad" Carter, Rose Carter Karnes, "Mom" and "Dad" Speer, Urias and
Alphus LeFevre, Frank Stamps, Roy Carter, Herman Harper, Smitty Gatlin,
Brock Speer, Rusty Goodman, Denver Crumpler, Rosie Rozell, "Big Chief"
James Wetherington, Earl Weatherford, Connor Hall, and all of the other
wonderful singers and musicians who have already gone home that we loved
here here on earth so much. They are ready and waiting for us to join
them.
*****
If you would like to send Kelly or Todd a card, please address it to
them and send to
The Nelons
P. O. Box 460
Smyrna, GA 30081
The fax number there is 770-424-5209
If you would like to send a card to his wife, Judy, please send to
Judy Nelon
Memory Lane Gospel
P. O. Box 140571
Nashville, TN 37214-0581
Email condolences may be sent to nel...@nelons.com
Harold Timmons