Mr. Nelson was born in Arouca, Trinidad on September 11th, 1951 to the late McDonald Nelson and the late Emelia Clarke Nelson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Nick, Hugh, Morgan, Errol and Jerry, and his sisters Anne Marie, Jean and Bernadette.
For years, Mr. Nelson was a part of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service before immigrating to the United States. After immigrating, he made his home in Florida and then in North Carolina, and continued his life of service to others. He filled such roles as security officer, substitute teacher, and school bus driver, and for more than fifteen years, he was a beloved assistant teacher in the Johnston County Public Schools system, while remaining active in his church home and communities. He was also an amateur artist, a prolific writer, and a whimsical player of his harmonica, which he was seldom without. Many people might have found that sufficient, but in between those other roles, a class or two at a time, Raphael earned a degree from the University of Oxford at Cambridge, ministered to prisoners, recorded Bible readings for the blind and vision impaired, and was an active and vital mentor and caregiver to his youngest grandchildren.
He is survived by his sister Cleo; his wife, Angela Nelson Madhoo; his four children, Cindy Nelson, Dexter Nelson, Candace Nelson, and Christal Nelson; his five grandchildren, Garrett Logan, Violet Greenwood, Jordan Mancini, Raine Nelson, and Nicholas Nelson, and by other relatives both in the US and in Trinidad.
Raphael will be laid to rest in Jasper, Florida, on Saturday, December 18th. Service will be held at 11 AM EST at Mount Pleasant AME Church, 7606 SW CR 158, Jasper, FL 32052.
Online condolences may be made to the family at: www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com.
McLaurin Funeral Home in Clayton, North Carolina and D.M. Udell Funeral Home in Live Oak, Florida are honored to be serving the Nelson family.
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.11.6