Johnnie Dufour Nelson

April 11, 1936 Dec 29, 2022

Johnnie was born in Tampa, Florida and was always proud of being a native Floridian. Because her father worked for the Atlantic Coastline Railroad, they had some frequent moves but settled in Waycross, Georgia during Johnnie's elementary school years. Johnnie's dad was promoted to superintendent of the rail welding plant in Rocky Mount, North Carolina and that is where she finished high school. After graduating she attended the Women's Collage, University of North Carolina, Greensboro and obtained her BA degree in education with a major in history and a minor in English.

After graduation she taught one year in Portsmouth, Virginia. At year end, she decided she had enough of the cold weather, got in her car and headed for Jacksonville, Florida.

Johnnie met Neil Nelson on a blind date in August 1959. Johnnie was sharing a home with two other school teachers and Neil was a Naval officer and Naval Aviator who had just returned to Naval Air Station Jacksonville from a five month deployment in Argentia, NewFoundland. They were married March 5 1960 in the base chapel.

On January 20, 1961 daughter Ann Kathryn was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Neil was on another deployment to Sigonella, Sicily and she had gone home to her parents. Kathryn was three months old before Neil returned and got to hold her.

In late 1962 Johnnie and Neil were in a severe auto accident that ended Neil's flying career for a time. He decided to part ways with the Navy and start a new career as a State Farm Agent. Johnnie continued to teach school now being at Lake Shore Junior High. It was her income that sustained the family while the insurance agency was beginning to grow. In 1967 she finally quit teaching and joined Neil in the insurance office where they worked side by side until retirement forty seven years later.

Johnnie had a beautiful soprano voice and played piano. Neil sang tenor. They both sang in the choir at the Westconnett Methodist Church when the Navy made Neil available. They both enjoyed music and often times at home Johnnie would play the piano and together they would sing all the old Broadway show tunes.

Johnnie was a cat person and raised Grand Champion Siamese cats in the 1960's and 70's. Weekends were spent traveling to regional cat shows leaving on Friday nights and returning late on Sunday. She still has two Siamese cats and a yellow tabby.

Johnnie loved to travel and she and Neil made many vacation trips both in and away from the states. Two of her favorite trips abroad were Rome, Italy and Sydney, Australia.

In 1971 Johnnie and Neil founded the MG Classics of Jacksonville auto club. Neil was the first president and she was first lady. The club has grown from a rather meager beginning to currently over one hundred members. She and Neil were still members over fifty years after inception. She was the first female member to have her own MG car and members still think of her as "First Lady". She hosted many MG club parties at her home and was famous for the oyster roasts at Christmas time. Johnnie had a sharp wit but never met a stranger and always had a smile and Southern welcome for anyone.

Johnnie Nelson, mother, teacher, businesswoman, cat person, best friend, loving wife of almost 63 years was finally taken by Alzheimer's December 29, 2022.

Rest in Peace, Johnnie, until we meet again.

A visitation will be held from 12:00PM - 2:00PM, Friday, January 6, 2022 at Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL 32073; followed by a memorial service at 2:00pm. Burial will be at Jacksonville Memory Gardens, 111 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL 32073.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com for theNelson family.