Rev. Janet "Gig" Wright Nelson

Mountain Rest, SC —The Reverend Mrs. Janet “Gig” Wright Nelson, 88, passed away at Oconee Medical Center, Seneca, SC, on November 23. The Rev. Mrs. Nelson was born in Westfield, NJ, the daughter of H. O. and Marian C. Wright. She was the wife of Dr. L. Dean Nelson, who survives at home in Mountain Rest, SC. Also surviving are her daughters Karen Nelson Basso (Derek) of Gaston, SC, Gail Nelson Jones (Arthur) of Stanfordville, NY and Dr. Beth E. Nelson (Stanley Fullwood) of Granby, CT; her brothers Robert Wright (Eleanor Starr) of Palm Coast, FL and Bruce Wright (Joan) of Cambridge, NY; and loving nieces, nephews and stepgrandchildren. Gig studied Ceramic Design at Alfred University, Alfred, NY, where she and Dean met. They were married on April 13, 1946 after he was discharged from the Army at the end of WW II. She supported herself and her husband and put him through optometric college by working several secretarial jobs over 6 years. While raising their daughters, she completed training as an optometric assistant and became a key member of the staff of her husband’s optometric practice in Hamilton, NY. During that time, Gig worked extensively with youth at the United Methodist Church; she created and led a weekly discussion group called the Teen Inquiry Group. Her passion for young people inspired her to return to college to become an ordained Methodist pastor. She attended Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, received her License to Preach in 1973 and was ordained a Deacon in 1979, when very few women served in the ministry. Gig loved to preach, always seeking to relate the Bible to current affairs. She especially enjoyed pastoral counseling and the healing it brought her parishioners. She was pastor of several churches in Central New York State, retiring as pastor of both the Lairdsville and Vernon United Methodist Churches in 1984, when she and her husband retired to Mountain Rest. After retirement she served as guest preacher for several churches in the upstate South Carolina area, including a three-month appointment as pastor of Double Springs UMC and as part-time minister to the congregation of the Salem UMC. She delivered her last sermon at the age of 85 at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Seneca on May 22, 2011. Gig expressed her creativity and artistic talent in painting, pottery and floral design. She was an extraordinary woman who was professionally accomplished and widely respected, fiercely loyal to her family, deeply involved with her church, and passionate about her ideals. She served all, without regard for her own needs. Gig’s life’s mission is reflected in the opening lines of one of her favorite poems: Let me live in a house by the side of the road, And be a friend to man. Her loving family misses her terribly. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that memorial gifts be made either to Saint Mark United Methodist Church, 616 Quincy Road, Seneca, SC 29678, www.saintmarkumcseneca.org or to the Rev. Mrs. Janet Wright Nelson Internship (focused on women’s health) at Bryn Mawr college, Resources Office, Helfarian, 101 North Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-2899. If you want to donate electronically, the link to the online giving page is: brynmawr.edu/makeagift. Under "gift information" choose the "specify a designation" box and type "Nelson Intership". A memorial service will take place at Saint Mark on December 12 at 1:00 p.m.. Online condolences may be shared at www.davenportfuneralhome.com.

Rev. Janet "Gig" Wright Nelson

July 20, 1925 - November 23, 2013