Chief William "Ken" Kenneth Nelms Jr.

home surrounded by his family. He was born on October 21, 1945, in Nashville, TN, to the late

William Kenneth Nelms, Sr. and Doris Marie Staggs Nelms.

A 1963 graduate of Antioch High School, Ken enlisted in the United States Navy on November

10, 1964, rising to the rank of Boatswain's Mate. While in the service, he received the National

Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal.

He was honorably discharged from the Navy on July 21, 1967.

He began his fire career in 1960 with a private fire service in Tusculum. He was hired by the

Nashville Fire Department in 1969, became a Captain in 1979, and was promoted to District

Chief in 1985. During this time, he also served as president of the Tennessee Firemen's

Association in 1995 and honored as Fire Instructor of the Year in 1981. Throughout his career,

he has been a nationally known fire service trainer.

He met and married his wife Ashlyn Prater, a registered nurse, in 1987, and they enjoyed 34

years of marriage. Left to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife Ashlyn, sons

William Kenneth (Trey) Nelms, III (Amy) of Springfield, TN; Joshua Bryan Nelms (Jodi) of

Tullahoma, TN; Daniel Allen Nelms (Emily) of Murfreesboro, TN; Matthew Robert Nelms (Jenna)

of Goodlettsville, TN; grandchildren Brian, Cameron, Will, Colbie, Kinsley, and Steele; and many

loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and other close family friends.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, from 4:00-8:00

p.m. at Woodlawn Funeral Home and on Thursday, February 11, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. until the

time of the service.

A private celebration of life service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2021, in

Dignity Hall at Woodlawn with the service broadcast on Facebook Live @Woodlawn-Roesch.

Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations to the Nashville Box 55 Association in memory of

Chief Nelms.