Beverly Margaret Edmunds Nelson

Beverly Margaret Edmunds Nelson, 83, a recent resident of Raleigh, North Carolina after 32 years living in Hickory, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 8, 2025, from cancer.

Bev was born on August 24, 1941, in Midland, Michigan to Alvin Melville and Jean Irene Peterson Edmunds. After her mother’s passing, she was raised by Gilbert and Alice Peterson Ward. Bev graduated in 1963 with a BS in Retailing of Textiles and Clothing from Michigan State University in Lansing, MI.

On Leap Day, February 29, 1964, she married John Carl Nelson from Grand Rapids, Michigan. They shared 61 years of marriage raising a family, engaging in their community, and traveling the world.

Following her dedication to raising a family, Bev joined the Hickory Daily Record to sell and design advertising for businesses across Catawba County. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend with a passion for her community. She was a Master Gardner, a gifted artist and musician, a gourmet cook and enjoyed the hunt for great restaurants. Bev was also an active member with First Presbyterian Church in Hickory, PORCH food pantry, Dance Club, Western Piedmont Symphony, Hickory Choral Society, NC Master Gardeners, Catawba Science Center, and the Hickory Museum of Art.

Bev was preceded in death by her brother, Carl Walter Edmunds (2018) and her parents, Alvin (1985) and Jean Irene (1950), all of Midland, Michigan.

She is survived by her husband John Carl Nelson of Raleigh; son and daughter in-law Peter and Ann Steffen Nelson of Hickory; daughter and son-in-law, Karin Nelson and Jad Davenport of Denver, Colorado; son and daughter-in-law Christopher and Catherine Perry Nelson of Snow Camp, North Carolina; her brother, John Edmunds of Webster, New York; her sister-in-law, Rickie Edmunds of South Lyon, Michigan; her niece and husband, Melissa and Tim Matson of Novi, Michigan; and her nephew and wife, Michael and Kathryn Edmunds of Daniel Island, South Carolina. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren: John and Jocelyn Nelson of Reston, Virginia; Michael Nelson of Snow Camp, North Carolina; Nicholas Nelson of Boone; Holly Nelson of Hickory; and Annika and Skye Davenport of Denver, Colorado.

A celebration of life will be held for family and friends at 1:00 PM on Sunday, August 24th at First Presbyterian Church (237 2nd Street NW) in Hickory, NC. The family will begin receiving attendees 1 hour before the ceremony starts at 12:00 PM and there will be a reception following the service. All who knew and loved Bev are welcome to join in remembering her kind and loving spirit.