James "Jim" Eugene Nelson, Jr. 59, of Memphis, TN, passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at Methodist Germantown Hospital. Jim was a long time Parts Associate at Principle Toyota. Jim was a member of Kirby Woods Baptist Church and was formerly a member of Cherry Road Baptist Church. He was a 1978 graduate of Elliston Baptist Academy and attended Memphis State University where he was a racquetball champion. Jim's hobbies included racquetball, archery, deer hunting with his daughter, and fishing. He loved cars and knew everything about them. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James Eugene Nelson, Sr. and Mary McAllister Nelson and his brother, Rudy Nelson. Survivors include his daughter, Karson Michelle Nelson, his sister, Kathy Kelley, his brother, Randy Nelson, four nieces and nephews, Dusty Nelson, Bethany Glover, Christy Kelley, and Chad Nelson, and six great-nephews. The family will receive friends Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 2pm until the funeral service begins at 4pm, all at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Ave. Memphis. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.memphisfuneralhome.net. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the CEED Initiative at the McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement (https://umfoundation.com/mclean) at the University of Mississippi. Jim passionately supported his "favorite" and only daughter Karson in her work with the CEED Initiative where she worked to alleviate poverty through education in communities all around Mississippi. The CEED Initiative that helped to put Karson through college was near to his heart as he attended every event possible to support her in her work in these communities that meant so much to them.
