Ena Nelson

BIOGRAPHY

Nelson was born in Folkston, Georgia, USA, on 23 September 1906, to parents Henry Gilbert Gibson (1855–1939) and Elizabeth Lee Gibson (1872–1961). She had at least 10 older siblings from her father’s first marriage, as well as two younger siblings: Anna Mae Turner (1912–2010) and Henry Richard Gibson (1914–2009). Her father farmed until the last 12 years of his life, during which he served as a probate judge.

After finishing high school in Folkston, she attended Valdosta College for two years in the 1920s, which granted her the right to teach. She taught for many years, including at three schools in Charlton County: Uptonville, Moniac, and Sardis.

On 3 September 1933, she married Stafford Ulysses Nelson (1912–1988). The couple was married for 55 years until his passing on 8 August 1988. They did not have any children. After getting married, she moved to Hilliard, Florida, where she taught more than 20 students at Hall Branch School, a one-room-school house.

Following the death of her husband, she lived with her sister Anna Turner for 22 years. In 2010, both she and Anna moved to Baptist Village Retirement Community together when she was 104. She was a member of High Bluff Primitive Baptist Church. At least five of her former students attended her 109th birthday party. In early 2017, she suffered a neck injury, but she recovered by the time of her 111th birthday later that year.

Nelson passed away in Waycross, Georgia, USA, on 18 January 2018, at the age of 111 years, 117 days.