Official Obituary of
Robert Ray Nellums
February 27, 1932 ~ December 16, 2015 (age 83) 83 Years Old
Robert Nellums Obituary
Robert Ray Nellums, 83, of Fortson, GA died Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at Columbus Hospice House.
Funeral services will be held 4:00 PM Saturday, December 19, 2015 at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory Chapel 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907. A private family interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends after the service at the funeral home. In the spirit of Coach Nellums' love for football and the outdoors, we encourage you to wear your garnet/gold, blue/orange, red/gold or camouflauge to the funeral service.
Mr. Nellums was born February 27, 1932 in Pensacola, FL son of the late Lyman and Minerva Jones Nellums. He attended Livingston College in Alabama (now, The University of West Alabama) and graduated from Perkinston Junior College in Mississippi (now, Gulf Coast Community College). He served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean War. He played football for the Army, as well.
Following his discharge, he was recruited to Florida State University where he played football for Coach Tom Nugent, whose FSU teams were known as "The Nugent Boys" and was also on the track team. He was awarded the "Most Valuable Player" football trophy his senior year. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He earned a B.S. Ed and M.S. Ed from FSU and a sixth year degree from Auburn University. While in graduate school at FSU, he helped coach the football "B" team. His first coaching position was as Head Coach at Jefferson County High School in Tallahassee, FL. Coach Nellums then moved to Columbus to teach and coach at Columbus High School.
He was known by many for his "Big" hands and impressionable disciplinary styles. He remained at Columbus High from 1967 until his retirement as Assistant Principal/Coach, with the exception of two years teaching and coaching at Hardaway High School.
Throughout his life, he played fast pitch softball, winning many tournaments throughout the southeast as a pitcher. In Columbus, GA, he played for Little Joe's Party shop and Villa Nova Restaurant and was routinely picked up by other teams for tournament play. In 1995, he was inducted into the Georgia ASA Hall of Fame. Coach Nellums was an avid hunter, fisherman, bridge player, bowler and all around sportsman.
Survivors include Janie Nellums of Columbus, GA, daughters, Dana Nellums (Steve) of Moultrie, GA, Shelley Newman (Buddy) of Fortson, GA and Allison Sparks (Steve) of Midland, GA, son, John Nellums (Leslee) of Columbus, GA, and eleven grandchildren, Dalton, Lindsay, Hayden, Angela, Kyle, Ryan, David, Charlie, Caroline, Katie, and Maddie.
Flowers will be accepted but those so desiring may make memorial contributions to the American Heart Association 7167 Mobley Walk Dr. Columbus, GA 31904, Alzheimer's Association 5900 River Rd. Suite 301 Columbus, GA 31904 or to Columbus Hospice 7020 Moon Rd. Columbus, GA 31909 www.columbushospice.com.
Funeral services will be held 4:00 PM Saturday, December 19, 2015 at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory Chapel 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907. A private family interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends after the service at the funeral home. In the spirit of Coach Nellums' love for football and the outdoors, we encourage you to wear your garnet/gold, blue/orange, red/gold or camouflauge to the funeral service.
Mr. Nellums was born February 27, 1932 in Pensacola, FL son of the late Lyman and Minerva Jones Nellums. He attended Livingston College in Alabama (now, The University of West Alabama) and graduated from Perkinston Junior College in Mississippi (now, Gulf Coast Community College). He served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean War. He played football for the Army, as well.
Following his discharge, he was recruited to Florida State University where he played football for Coach Tom Nugent, whose FSU teams were known as "The Nugent Boys" and was also on the track team. He was awarded the "Most Valuable Player" football trophy his senior year. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He earned a B.S. Ed and M.S. Ed from FSU and a sixth year degree from Auburn University. While in graduate school at FSU, he helped coach the football "B" team. His first coaching position was as Head Coach at Jefferson County High School in Tallahassee, FL. Coach Nellums then moved to Columbus to teach and coach at Columbus High School.
He was known by many for his "Big" hands and impressionable disciplinary styles. He remained at Columbus High from 1967 until his retirement as Assistant Principal/Coach, with the exception of two years teaching and coaching at Hardaway High School.
Throughout his life, he played fast pitch softball, winning many tournaments throughout the southeast as a pitcher. In Columbus, GA, he played for Little Joe's Party shop and Villa Nova Restaurant and was routinely picked up by other teams for tournament play. In 1995, he was inducted into the Georgia ASA Hall of Fame. Coach Nellums was an avid hunter, fisherman, bridge player, bowler and all around sportsman.
Survivors include Janie Nellums of Columbus, GA, daughters, Dana Nellums (Steve) of Moultrie, GA, Shelley Newman (Buddy) of Fortson, GA and Allison Sparks (Steve) of Midland, GA, son, John Nellums (Leslee) of Columbus, GA, and eleven grandchildren, Dalton, Lindsay, Hayden, Angela, Kyle, Ryan, David, Charlie, Caroline, Katie, and Maddie.
Flowers will be accepted but those so desiring may make memorial contributions to the American Heart Association 7167 Mobley Walk Dr. Columbus, GA 31904, Alzheimer's Association 5900 River Rd. Suite 301 Columbus, GA 31904 or to Columbus Hospice 7020 Moon Rd. Columbus, GA 31909 www.columbushospice.com.
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