Obituary of Sheral A. Nelson

Rev. Sheral A. Coley Nelson, age 68, of Elmira, New York, born August 11, 1955, in Dublin, Georgia, entered eternal life Monday, July 8, 2024, at Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, Pennsylvania. She was the only daughter and the middle child of three to the late Willie T. and Rosa Mae (Edwards) Coley. Sheral moved to Elmira, New York, with her family at a young age, and immediately decided to make the city her lifelong home. As a young adult, she joined Frederick Douglass AME Zion Church and became active in the church outreach ministry program. It was during a church conference that Sheral met her future husband, Robert Nelson, III, and after a long courtship, the two were united in matrimony at her home church, August 1977. As a military spouse, she and Robert traveled extensively for over 20 years. When Robert retired, the two returned to Elmira to join Sheral's family, raise their four children and serve the Lord through the AME Zion church. Sheral faithfully served as a member of the church choir, President of the Lay Council, Sunday School teacher, Director of Christian Education, church Secretary, District Superintendent of Buds of Promise and President of the Women's Home and Overseas Mission Society. Sheral loved her family deeply and her four children were a high priority for happiness and well-being. She would even have them eat before her. and prayed to see them "be okay" in life. They faithfully called their mom every Sunday -not because they wanted to, but because she demanded that they do so. She lovingly wanted to hear their voice. Sheral always cared and advocated for the underdog, feeling a quiet voice was as powerful as a loud one and both should be heard. Although baptized when the family was stationed in Texas, Sheral was baptized a second time when the Lord called her to serve from behind the pulpit. She admitted to ignoring the Lord's earlier calling, feeling pastoral life wasn't in her; yet when she heard God's call her again, she told her husband that she had better listen to God's calling this time for He knew what was right for her. Sheral started her ministry in 2016, was ordained an Elder in the AME Zion Church in 2022, assigned Associate Pastor of Frederick Douglass Memorial AME Zion Church, here in Elmira, New York. She found the ministry rewarding as well as spiritually comforting as the days towards her homegoing became clear. Rev. Sheral Coley Nelson is survived by Robert Nelson III, her devoted husband of 46 years,; four children: Robert (Cory) Nelson IV of Baldwin, NY, Rodney (Meaghan) Nelson of Charleston, WV, Ranisha (Eric) Nelson-Benyo of Springfield, PA and Rochelle (Nicholas) Cooper of Horseheads, NY; five grandchildren: Jasmine Nelson, Luca Nelson, Logan Benyo, Silas and Desmond Cooper; two brothers: Willie T. Coley, Jr. of Elmira, and Alton (Vanessa) Coley of Miami, FL, along with a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Heartfelt thanks are extended to the doctors and nursing staff at Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre, Pennsylvania, for their professional and compassionate care. Family and friends are invited to the viewing at Frederick Douglass Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 400 Madison Ave., Elmira , NY, on Friday, July 12th from 6 to 8 pm. PHA Order of the Eastern Star Chapter of Sorrow service will be conducted at 7:40 pm. Funeral service will be held at same church on Saturday, July 13th at 11 am. Rev. Paul G. Carter will officiate. Committal prayers and interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, 1200 Walnut St., Elmira, NY.