Mable Lucille Nelsoen was born Mable Crockett on July 9, 1927, in Austinville, Virginia to the union of Charlie Harmon Crockett and Gennie Mitchell Crockett. Mable was the 8th of 16 children.

She accepted the Lord at the age of 12 years old during Bible study at her father’s home. She walked continuously with the Lord from that day until her death. During her youthful years, she learned to play the guitar and then taught herself to play the piano by ear. That was a gift given to her by God and she determined to use it whenever she had an opportunity. She also took organ lessons and occasionally played the organ. She tickled those ivories until her illness progressed last October.

Mable left home and moved to Washington DC for a short time, then moved on to Detroit, Michigan. There she attended Jones Temple Church of God In Christ and met and was married to the late Frank Murray Nelsoen for 65 years. To this union six children were born: Frances, Sharon, Darryl, Pamela, Frank Jr aka Darwin, and Dorion.

Her older brother Richard started a church, Pentecostal Bible Way Church, in Detroit and Mable attended his church for 30 years. She played the piano at his church all those years.

While making a home for her children, she had her home certified as a day care facility. She accepted babies from newborn to 2 years old. There were times when she kept babies overnight and throughout the week in order for the mother to matriculate and complete studies to improve her station in life. She also took in laundry, she made the best yeast rolls in town and took orders for her rolls, especially during holiday season. She was an encourager to the young and the old alike.

After the death of her older brother, Chester, Mable moved back to Virginia with his wife, the late Lula Crockett. The next 30 years were spent at Sion Hill church under the pastorate of her younger brother, Eugene, and she played the piano at his church.

She loved to travel. She frequently went to Michigan. She also went to Maryland, Colonial Beach, and Chicago. She survived the COVID pandemic after which she began attending Franklin Street United Methodist Church, and yes, she played the ELECTRIC keyboard there. `She once again became a faithful member and in her final years she so enjoyed being under the leadership of Harry Grubb. At Pentecostal Bible Way Church she was affectionately known as Sister Nelsoen, at Sion Hill she was Aunt Mable, and at Franklin Street United Methodist church she was known as mom.

At 95 years old, she participated in a Facebook commercial for the wrestler “The Storm” at a Tire and Muffler shop here in Wytheville.

She bowled for the first time at 96 years old at her birthday party at the Crossroads Bowling Alley.

We were looking forward to her 100th birthday party because ‘99 and a half won’t do’. In October she was misdiagnosed with dementia. After several difficult weeks she was correctly diagnosed with a glioblastoma tumor. She was given 6 months to live because her age was too advanced for her to undergo surgery. Even though she had such a grim diagnosis, God was good to her. She never had a headache, and she continued to eat well until the last few days before she went home to be with the Lord. God has been faithful all of her life.

She is preceded in death by her sisters, Laura, Beulah, Ella Mae and Agnes. Her brothers, Rupert, Chester, Richard, Albert, Garfield, Sherman, Isaiah. Her husband, Frank, her daughter, Frances, her sons, Frank Jr, and Dorion.

She leaves many to cherish her memory: her siblings, Shirley Watson and brothers, Eugene (Mable), Archie Ray (Carolyn). Her children, Sharon, Pamela, and Darryl (Patty). Grandchildren: Dorion, Pamela Lynn, Thomas, LaChan, Angela, Melanie, Xavier, Carnasto (Isabella), Aledra (Asa), Kevin, Eric (Curnisha). Great-grandchildren: Tederio, Dorion Jr., Taurean, Jalen, Jazmine, Doriana, Harmonie, Amarean, Karminka, Lachae, Lachan Jr., Sanaa Mable, Mandavaron, Dacia, Michael, Myles, Maze, Lucius, Micah, Alaiah, Yamaya, Mateus, Josiah, AJ, Ma’Savior, Za’Kyra, Alana, Keymora, Kimmery, Great-great grandchildren: Dreame, Destiny and Alaina. There is a great host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many others who lovingly called Mable “granny”.

Funeral service will be held 11 A.M. Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Franklin Street United Methodist Church in Wytheville conducted by Reverend Harry Grubb with interment to follow in the Crockett Family Cemetery in Austinville, VA. The family will receive friends on Monday, March 30, 2026, from 5 P.M. until 7 P.M. at the Franklin Street United Methodist Church. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com

Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.