Winnifred "Winnie" Sweet Nelson

Winnie Sweet Nelson passed peacefully on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at The Gardens at Warwick Forest after a long illness. Born in Lexington, Va., on January 10, 1925, Winnie was the daughter of Andrew L. and Emma Rowe Sweet of Lexington.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 33 years Roy M. Nelson of Hampton, her sisters Mary Ellen Chappell and Hazel Lee Baker of Hampton, and brothers Eugene K. Sweet of Buena Vista, Va., and Charles A. Sweet of Hampton.

Winnie left Lexington after graduation to work at LAFB and settled in Phoebus, where she met a young sailor, Roy M. Nelson. They were married in 1946. She retired from Old Point National Bank in 1988 after over 30 years of service. During her years at OPNB, she worked as a bookkeeper, teller, branch manager and became the first woman on the Peninsula to be named a bank Vice President. After her retirement, Winnie continued serving her community as a volunteer at Hampton General Hospital, logging over 3300 hours as a Pink Lady. After moving to Denbigh in 1988, she also volunteered at DUCO and worked with her neighborhood Crime Watch Program. A true people person, Winnie never met a stranger and touched the lives of everyone she met. She loved flowers and gardening, spending time in Nags Head with family and friends at The Duck Blind, and was always trying her hand at a new craft or hobby. A member of Warwick Memorial UMC, she was active in the Women of the Church and Sunday School. She was also a member of the "Juliets" Chapter of the Red Hat Society formed by ladies of the church.

She leaves to cherish her memories her daughter, Linda N. Whetstine (Robert) of Newport News, her son, Michael D. Nelson (Sandra) of Mechanicsville, Va., five grandchildren, Steven C. Whetstine (Elisabeth) and Lindsey W. Davis (Scott) of Newport News; Lisa Nelson (Ryan Durkin) of Oak Park, IL; Scott B. Nelson (Rebecca) of Glen Allen, Va; and Matthew R. Nelson (Joy) of Mechanicsville, Va.; and five great-grandsons, Tyler and Zachary Davis and Clayton and Carter Whetstine of Newport News and Samuel Durkin of Oak Park, IL; her brother James E. Sweet (Ruth) of Glade Hill, Va., a sister-in-law, Mae S. Sweet of Buena Vista, Va., and ten nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to the entire staff at The Gardens at Warwick Forest for their compassionate care over the past four years, particularly Derrick Armstrong, Sade, Toni, Sedat, Sylvia, Ebony, Jasmine, Dr. Joseph Ward, and Pastor Joe Riss.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 22 at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, July 23 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Winnie to Boy Scout Troop 6, 802 Ashley Place, Newport News, Va. 23608 or to the Warwick Memorial UMC Celebration Center.