Leslie M. Nelson

Lessie M. Nelson passed away Friday, September 4th. All Day Viewing Friday, September 11th from 9am - 7 pm & Funeral Services on Saturday, September 12th starting at 10:00 AM at Watson's Funeral Home 10913 Superior Ave. Cleve, OH 44106 On Friday, October 14, 1915, in Newman, Georgia, God blessed John and Lillie (Cox) Martin with a bundle of joy, their fourth child of eleven children. They named her Lessie. Countless nieces, nephews and friends call her Aunt Lessie. Her siblings left to morn her, brother AJ and baby sister, Ethel Rene, call her Lessie. God has blessed her to see nearly 100 years of life. At this time, she was residing at the Willows Health and Rehabilitation Center in Euclid, Ohio. I had become executer of her care. I'm Della (Martin) Watts, a niece and a daughter of her oldest brother, George Martin. We were hoping to celebrate her birthday with a family reunion in October. You see, God knows her heart better than ours. She never liked a big fuss. Aunt Lessie was a true Christian and a joyful one. She had a charitable heart. She loved to give to her nieces and nephews. She was quiet and soft spoken. There was nothing she would not give us. She said things that made us laugh but at the same time she was teaching us about life. Her words may not have been fancy but they had great meaning. Aunt Lessie did not have any children although she did have the responsibility of raising her baby sister, Ethel Rene. Their mom died when Rene was about 5 years old. Lessie was about 20. She promised her mom that she would take care of Rene and she did. She was a hard worker at D.O. Summer's Dry Cleaners for 38 years. She travelled all over the city to teach other employees to press clothes and shirts for Summer's. When President Obama was running for president for the first time, she said, "Come and pick me up early so I can go vote for that boy. He is going to be our first black president." And she said it with a smile. Many of us have funny things we can say about Aunt Lessie. One of the best times for me was when I had to take her to an appointment with the Social Security Administration. I had been trying to convince Aunt Lessie to draw Mr. Nelson's (ex-husband) social security instead of hers because his benefits were greater than hers. I had no success getting her to change so I thought an SSA officer could do better. The officer explained, discussed and debated why using Mr. Nelson's allotment would be best. However, Aunt Lessie said, "I do not want his money. I only want what I worked for. I do not want his money dead or alive." The supervisor came over and asked if she realized that she was giving up about $300 a month? Aunt Lessie's reply was, "Yes! But I will have peace of mind with my money." "Della, let's go. It's time for my nap," as she smiled. The supervisor said, "I have never seen this in my life. Everyone we see always wants as much as they can get." When Aunt Lessie's health began to fail, I asked her if she would come live with Willie and me. She said, "No way!" She kept her independence but allowed her great-nephews, David and Marshall to come and clean her apartment. I did the shopping and sometimes cooked meals for her. She'd say, "Bring me my snacks. That's all I need; my bed, my bible, my food." Aunt Lessie was very quiet. Some days when I visited her, she would say, "Just give me my snacks and go home; get some rest. Don't overdo it, ok?" However, when I got her to talk she was so funny. When time comes for doctor appointments, I have to start talking to her about it a month in advance so that she will allow the doctor to examine her. At one of her appointments, when the doctor attempted to examine her, she told him to get out from under her gown. He replied, "Mrs Nelson, I have to check your skin to make sure it is not breaking down." Aunt Lessie said, "It is not broke and it is nothing under there you need to see. And, if it is broke, I am going to take it to Glory with me. ? When I go in for visits, some days I could hear her praying. I would say Aunt Lessie, did you pray for me today. She'd say, "I pray for my family every day!" Aunt Lessie accepted Christ as her savior when she was a young lady, after coming to Cleveland in the ‘40's. She was a member at several churches until she joined Olivet Institutional Baptist Church with Rev. Otis Moss. She loved to sing in the choir and her Sunday school class. We've talked about living in the nursing home. She said, "Baby, I am fine. I have a bed, my bible and food. You are always here to check on me and bring me my snacks. My clothes are clean and they smell good!" ? Like I said, she teaches in all she says. She said Philippians 4:11. Aunt Lessie said, "I think often about my special friend Odell Foster. We would talk every day until I became a resident here. Where would any of us be without our friends? I just can't imagine." Aunt Lessie said, "We should always know that time is very precious. While you are alive, there is hope. Hope is another chance or opportunity to get things right. I want the family to know that faith is having the courage to let God have control of your life. Always pray, and pray, and pray. That's what I do."