Joel Benjamin Nelson

Joel Benjamin Nelson, child of the Covenant, entered Heaven’s Glory on Thursday, August 9, 2018. 
He was born on October 16, 1990 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and was raised in Valparaiso, Florida with his large, loving family as one of eight children. Joel was baptized and beloved at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso. He took part in many sports throughout his childhood, excelling particularly in Cross Country. Joel was an extremely humble young man, with a quiet, peaceful nature. He loved many things, from complex math and brain teasers, to composing music and lyrics. Joel appreciated good literature and had a rare talent of mastering foreign language easily. He was truly a man of many interests and talents, though never one to boast. Joel was an enthusiastic student who loved to learn. He was homeschooled as a child and graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree from Northwest Florida State College in 2009.

Joel is survived by a large and incredibly supportive family, namely, his grandfather, Sam Nelson, and his aunt, Lee Ann Nelson, both of Elkins, WV; his parents, Samuel and Barbara Nelson of Valparaiso, FL; and his six surviving siblings and their spouses - Joshua and Christina Nelson of Chesapeake, VA; Samuel and Heather Nelson of Pensacola, FL; Josiah and Caitlin Nelson of Valparaiso, FL; Chara and Joshua Stevenson of Virginia Beach, VA; Hannah Nelson of Port Charlotte, FL; and Sarahanne and Robert Haney of Jacksonville, NC. Joel’s surviving family also includes many adoring aunts, uncles and cousins, and an admiring fan club of ten nephews and five nieces. He is preceded in death by his grandmothers, Patricia Taul Nelson of Elkins, WV and Patsy Terry Cross, of Pine Bluff, AR; his grandfather, Jack Cross of Elkins, WV; his uncles, J. Randall Cross, of Dewitt, AR, and Glen Nelson, of Houston, TX; and by his sister, Chesed Rene’ Nelson.

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