The Rev. Mary Louise Curd Nelson

The Rev. Mary Louise Curd Nelson, 82, died January 11, 2009. She joined the Oak Ridge (TN) congregation in 1956 and became deeply involved in RE. She was church school director while she earned accreditation as a DRE. She then completed independent study to become an MRE. She was fellowshipped by the UUA and ordained by the Knoxville congregation. She also served as an MRE for the UU congregation in Oak Ridge, TN. When she retired in 1988 the Knoxville church named her minister emerita. Her husband, Bill Nelson, died in January a year before she did. She will long be remembered for her passion for civil rights, peace and women’s rights, and for mentoring students of all ages in the independent study program. Her colleague, the Rev. Linnea Pearson said, “Mary was a noble woman and paved the way for others of us to follow. She will be missed and remembered.”