HURT—Rev. E. Nelson Lea, 87, of 4749 Level Run Road, Hurt, passed away on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at his home.
He was born December 2, 1930, in Welch, W.Va., a son of the late Walter Thomas Lea Sr. and Ernice Nona Dawson Lea. Nelson graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1954 from Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
He served as pastor of Morattico Baptist Church from 1957 to 1980 and Wicomico Baptist Church from 1957 to 1982 in the Northern Neck. He received a Master in Special Education in 1983 from Lynchburg College. Nelson returned to ministry in 1984 as pastor of Evangelical United Methodist-Harper-Chapel Charge until his retirement in 1994. He was a member of New Bethel United Methodist Church.
He is survived by two sisters, Irma Lea Hedrick of Hurt and Janice L. Farmer (M.A.) of Altavista; and several devoted nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, W. Thomas Lea Jr. and John H. Lea Sr.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m., Saturday, September 22, at Finch & Finch Chapel, Altavista, by the Rev. Phillip Bailey. Interment followed in the Lea Family Cemetery.
The family received friends prior to the service at the funeral home and other times at the residence.
The family suggests that those wishing to make memorials consider a local Humane Society.
Finch & Finch Funeral and Cremation Service, Altavista, handled the arrangements. Visit www.finchandfinchfuneralservice.com to share a memory or send a condolence to the family.
