John Nelson Jennings, 81, passed away at a Rossville nursing facility on September 16, 2020.
Nelson was born at home in Auburn, Barrow County, Ga., on May 10, 1939. His family moved from their farm in Loganville, Georgia to Rossville in 1950. He was a proud Class of 1957 Rossville High School graduate before he began his adventurous life as an artist, interior and department store display designer, and later a draftsman, drawing floor plans for log homes. He retired from Battle Creek Log Homes to care for his mother who lived with him in Rossville.
Like his family, Nelson loved designing and installing landscapes, so he helped transform his parents’ yard and then his own into beautiful spaces until Parkinson’s Disease changed his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Willis J. Jennings and Lois Peppers Jennings and an infant brother who died at birth.
Nelson is survived by his sister, Patricia “Pat” Jennings, Ringgold,and Pat’s fiancé and Nelson’s good friend, Barry Burson, Rossville, Ga., as well as his uncle Charlie Peppers, Monroe, Ga., and aunt Cammie Melton, Monroe, Ga., and many dear cousins and friends.
Special thanks to his favorite nurse, Candace Rathburn and his Hospice nurse, Rachael Henderson, who have been so lovingly helpful during the last stage of his life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Mission Ridge Baptist Church, 337 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville, Ga., 30741 or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, NYC 10163-4777.
A private graveside funeral service will be held at Tennessee-Georgia Memorial Park on Sept. 17, with Pastor Ted Verville officiating.
Arrangements are by Lane Funeral Home- South Crest Chapel, Rossville.