Edna Janelle Nelson-Greiner

Edna Janelle Nelson Greiner, formerly of Pascagoula, MS, died August 26, 2009 in Fayetteville, GA after a long battle with a progressive form of Parkinson’s disease. Janelle Nelson was born December 1, 1935 in Escatawpa, MS where she resided until her family moved to Pascagoula in 1946. As a 1953 graduate of Pascagoula High, she was a member of the Beta Club, and played saxophone and oboe in the high school band. In her senior year she was selected to play in the prestigious Mississippi Lions All State Band which performed in Miami, FL with bands from around the country. After high school, Miss Nelson attended Mississippi Southern College on a band scholarship. Upon graduation from college, and with a degree in biology, Miss Nelson moved to Atlanta to attend Grady Memorial Hospital’s School of Medical Technology. After completion of the program, she moved back to Pascagoula and worked at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula before moving to New York City to work for the eminent rheumatologist, Dr. Russell Cecil, author of the Cecil Textbook of Medicine. During her time with Dr. Cecil, she met many interesting patients from around the world. Although Miss Nelson loved living in New York, she eventually moved back to Atlanta and to Grady Hospital where she resumed her duties as a Medical Technologist working in the hospital blood bank and laboratories. At Grady, Miss Nelson met Dr. Fred L. Greiner whom she married in 1962. Following her husband’s medical training at Emory University School of Medicine, the two moved to Bitburg, Germany where Dr. Greiner served as an Air Force Flight Surgeon for three years. At the end of Dr. Greiner’s tour of duty the couple traveled the world extensively before moving back to Georgia where Mrs. Greiner resided until her death. Mrs. Greiner was educated in the sciences and worked in the medical arena for several years, but her career gradually moved in another direction, commercial real estate. In 1984 she joined The Gipson Company (a real estate development company), where she worked until her retirement in 2005. Former co-worker, Grant Gipson, said, ”Janelle was one of the most creative and proficient marketers in the industry from performing marketing studies for anchor tenants to preparing marketing and financial packages that were coveted and demanded by the real estate representatives from such companies as Kmart, Wal-Mart, Kroger and Publix. There was never a friendlier advocate of tenants’ rights than Janelle. Up until her last day in the office, Janelle brought light, much love and humor to every situation. The halls of The Gipson Company forever changed with her retirement, and the business of Real Estate surely has lost one of its most beloved and colorful members – there will always be a void where this once regal and beautiful southern belle stood above the crowd both figuratively and literally.” Not only did Janelle Greiner have a great love of family and career, she also had a love for the culinary arts and for entertaining. If there was an occasion to celebrate, she would plan a gathering, prepare an exquisite menu, and invite family and friends to join her. All those who were treated to one of her dinner parties would agree that she could compete with the best cooks and the best hostesses of the world. Janelle Nelson Greiner led a wonderful and full life and will be remembered for her joy of living and giving. Her sister-in-law, Bettye Nelson, said, “She accomplished a lot in her life, but her children are her biggest accomplishment. They are wonderful, well-educated, successful people thanks to Janelle’s strong influence.” Mrs. Greiner is the mother of three children: Fred Loranton Greiner, Jr. (wife Susanne) of Bangkok, Thailand; Kathryn Chartrand Greiner Koth (husband Jeff) of Peachtree City, GA; and KaiVan Nelson Greiner (wife Kelly) of Birmingham, AL. In addition to her children, she is survived by six grandchildren: Dalton and Wyatt Koth of Peachtree City, GA; Sutherlan and Nelson Greiner of Birmingham, AL; and Nicolas and Isabel Van Laarhoven Greiner of Bangkok, Thailand. Other survivors in her immediate family include brothers Earl (wife Bettye) of Poplarville, Mike (wife Karen) of Wiggins, and her sister Mae Nelson Stone of Tucker, GA. Mrs. Greiner is also survived by her ex-husband, Dr. Fred Loranton Greiner, Sr. of Fort Pierce, FL; three nephews, Von Nelson of Orlando, FL; Ben Nelson of Seattle, WA; Brannon Nelson of Austin, TX; and two nieces, Dawn Nelson of Wiggins and Amber Nelson of New York, NY. Janelle Nelson Greiner was preceded in death by her parents, Judge J. Leslie Nelson (1971) and Juanita Rabby Nelson (2000). A memorial will be held Sunday October 11th at 2:00 PM at the La Maison Gautier, AKA “The Old Place”. There will be a reception immediately following the memorial at The Old Place lasting until 6:00 PM. Those wishing to remember Mrs. Greiner may make a donation in her name to their local Parkinson’s Association or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at the following address: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780 Local arrangements by Holder-Wells Funeral Home, Moss Point, MS. Online guestbook available at www.holderwellsfuneralhome.com.

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Edna Janelle Nelson-Greiner

December 1, 1935 - August 26, 2009