Nelson family has history of leadership in Yazoo
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“I didn’t realize he was the treasurer of the black bank until Joseph Thomas found some receipt books with his signature on it,” William said. “It was a piece of history that had slipped by me.”
Aside from his role at the bank, Virgil Nelson was also a businessman. His grocery store sat on the same spot as William’s dental clinic does today.
William said there is a soft spot in his heart to be conducting his own business at the same location of his great grandfather.
“It touched me,” William said. “I also grew up right down the street in a house that he built. It just feels right at home around here.”
William can also feel the presence of his family at church, St. Stephen United Methodist Church. Six generations of the Nelson family have worshipped at the local church.
“(Virgil) was one of the founding trustees of the church,” William said. “The church was founded in 1866, and six generations of my family have been there. In fact, four of my grandchildren were baptized there just last summer.”
Aside from his work ethic and church involvement, Virgil Nelson was also an active civic leader in the Yazoo community.
At the turn of the century, Yazoo City Mayor A. Winn presented a resolution for Virgil at his death for his contributions and dedication to the community.
“It is sad to pass the store on the corner of Jefferson and Yazoo streets,” the resolution said. “Yet, he has gone to that unknown world, where salvation never ends.”
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Dear Editor,
I realize after this letter is published that my daughter will probably never have the opportunity of making the Dixie League All-Star team.
However after praying and pondering over this situation, and because she has never made the team in all of her five years of playing (which is a joke) I have nothing to lose.
I am normally a pretty passive person, but I guess the older I get the more I see and understand the cruel shenanigans that many of our kids are faced with. But mostly, the older I get the more I have learned to become more vocal in the things I feel are just not right.
The Dixie Youth Girls Team is one that I have held close to my heart because the one child that I have has been a part of this league since she was old enough to participate. Now at first I did not make a big issue out of the All Star Selection process because each year I was given a so-called excuse as to why my child did not make it.
Her first year and at age four, she was just this cute little girl scrambling around like the others with no clue as to what to do. As she got older and more serious, I realized that this is really becoming her passion and not tooting my own horn but she’s pretty darn good.
Now again I know that she may never make the team after the comment I am about to make, but who cares.
This league is one of the most biased leagues I have ever, ever encountered. Parents, many of our kids are being overlooked because the selection process is too political and a big joke. I do not think that I could sleep at night knowing that I (the coaches) put my child in a position that I know they do not deserve.
For years and in talking to other parents, coaches have been allowed to nominate their child(ren) and other coaches’ children, which is so unfair. Now I know that I am not the smartest person in the world, but I do know what ALL-STAR means. But for those of you who do not, it means “consisting of athletes chosen as the best at their positions from all ... consisting entirely of star performers.” To break it down further; the BEST players!!!
We as parents need to be more involved in ensuring that there are policies and procedures in place and that they are adhered to. We want the best children to represent our city not those children that you want to be recognized to feed your own egos.
Coaches should not be allowed to nominate their children or make deals behind closed doors. ALL-STAR selections should be based on statistics and privy to those children who have worked hard and diligently all summer. Some of you coaches should be ashamed of yourselves with your hidden agendas. I personally do not see how you sleep at night.
Zelda B. Baker
Concerned Parent
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