Nellie Peoples Whitson

Nellie Whitson was born to the union of Tommie and Mamie Peoples on October 25, 1936 as the first child of that union. Her siblings who proceeded her in death Thomas Peoples, Jr, John Robert Peoples, Carrie Peoples Norman and Veola Resonover LaMondue. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis,Tennessee in 1954.

She married Melvin McKinney Whitson in December 31, 1954. Three children were born to that union: Marvis Lynne Whitson, Allyson Marie McClinton (deceased) (husband Dale McClinton), and Toni Kaysandra Whitson.

She attended LeMoyne-Owen College. She was one of the first five black students (known as the Memphis State Five) to attempt to enroll at Memphis State University in 1954. In 1962 she earned her license in nursing. She worked at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1974 she moved to Detroit, Michigan with her three daughters. In the Detroit area she worked at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital, Comprehensive Health Care Services of Detroit and Michigan Head and Spine Institute from where she retired in 2015 at the age of 79.

She served faithfully as the president of the Lemoyne-Owen College Alumni Association of Detroit and earned four meritorious service awards as their president. She also served as the president of the Pastor’s Aid Society of Oak Grove AME Church of which she was a member until her death. She also served as the president of the Hubbell-Marlowe-Strathmoor Neighborhood Block Club for two years.

Nellie died peacefully in her sleep at home on October 4, 2020. She leaves her daughter Marvis, Toni and her son-in-law Dale to cherish her memory, along with a host of relatives and friends.