Bonnie W. Nelson

A graveside service for Bonnie Ruth Winstead Nelson will be held Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. from Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery in the House Community with Dr. J. R. Eaton officiating. Visitation will be held at McClain-Hays Funeral Home on Tuesday from noon until 2 p.m. McClain-Hays Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.    Bonnie Ruth Winstead Nelson, 85, died July 15, 2018, in Meridian, following complications from a fall at her home. Bonnie was the youngest of six children born March 19, 1933, to the late Marshall Coleman and Effie Mae Beeson Winstead of Neshoba County. She was a graduate of Longino High School and the University of Southern Mississippi. She retired from teaching at Neshoba Central Elementary School in 1992.  She previously taught at Coldwater High School in Neshoba County and D’Iberville and St. Martin Elementary schools on the Gulf Coast.  In 1959-1960 Bonnie worked as a civil service employee for the U.S. military in Chateauroux, France.  She traveled throughout Europe, writing letters and sending postcards and gifts to her family. She returned to Neshoba County with lots of stories and a baby-blue Renault, the only one in the area.  She later worked as a librarian at Keesler Air Force Base, where she met Pat E. Nelson, whom she married in 1966. While Pat was stationed in Jackson, their son Phillip was born.  Following Pat’s retirement from the military, the family returned to Neshoba County. Bonnie was an avid reader and shared her love of books and music with her family. She taught herself to play the harmonica, accordion and the autoharp.  She could read before she started school.  However, she said she didn’t realize there was an order to the ABC’s until she entered first grade! Bonnie is survived by her son Phillip Winstead Nelson of Union; a sister, Frances W. McCraw of Wiggins; a brother, Oren T. Winstead of Scottsdale, AZ; nephews, Larry Rigdon of Goodview, VA, and Wayne Winstead of Carthage; nieces, Doris Matthews of Wiggins, Donna Bonney of New Orleans, Judy Fryant of Pearl, and Patricia McKinzie of Louisville. Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband Pat; a brother; Waddell Winstead; and sisters, Dorris Winstead and Juanita Rigdon.Pallbearers are Will McKinzie, Daniel Matthews, Joseph Bonney, Max Fryant, Keith Watkins and Thomas Matthews III. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.