THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 12, 1997 TAG: 9701120043
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 49 lines
Janet Kellicott Nelson, 92, of the 3100 block of Shore Drive, formerly of Richmond, died Monday, Jan. 6, 1997.
The only child of Mary Louise Hicks Kellicott and William Erskine Kellicott, Janet was born in New York City on Oct. 5, 1904. Educated at the Friends School and Horace Mann, she graduated from Barnard College in 1927, continued her education at the Maryland State Normal School and then attended Johns Hopkins University, where she met her future husband, E. Clifford Nelson. They were married in 1932, at the depth of the Depression, and celebrated 62 years of travel, photography, square dancing, entertaining, gardening and finally, retirement, until Dr. Nelson died in 1994.
The Nelsons lived in Orono and Grey, Maine, until World War II intervened, and moved to Richmond in 1947, when Dr. Nelson joined the faculty of the Medical College of Virginia. As they had enjoyed New England-style square dancing during their summers on Cape Cod, they invited some friends in, formed a square and danced in their living room.
The group soon became too large for their house and moved to the Ginter Park Recreation Center, where it continued to expand. Janet Nelson's small group of square dancers eventually resulted in the formation of the Richmond Area Square Dance Federation.
Janet's lifelong interest in art led her to many years of volunteer work at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the couple's continuing interest in photography inspired them to join the Camera Club of Richmond, where they both won numerous awards for outstanding photographs.
Long after Dr. Nelson retired, they moved to Westminster-Canterbury, Virginia Beach, where they continued to enjoy square dancing, photography, gardening and travel.
At the age of 85, Janet Nelson expanded her interest in writing by joining several writers' groups. Her infallible memory, eye for the unusual and appreciation of humorous or absurd situations enabled her to produce many pieces of fiction based on her experience that ``had 'em rollin' in the aisles.''
In addition to a son, William K. Nelson; granddaughter, Marion Nelson-Sherman; and great-granddaughter, Francesca Sherman, Janet Nelson leaves behind many, many beloved friends and a durable legacy of stories, poems and outstanding memories.
Friends will gather in the penthouse of Westminster-Canterbury, Virginia Beach, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to remember and celebrate Janet Nelson's long, full life.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Westminster-Canterbury Fellowship Fund, 3100 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, Va. 23451.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY