Robert Nevels was born August 24, 1936, on a hot summer day in Chicago, Illinois to Samella Nevels. He confessed a belief in Christ at the age of fifteen when he joined Friendship M.B. Church and was baptized by Rev. J.R. Davis. Robert received his formal education in the Chicago Public Schools at Grant Elementary School and McKinley High School, and he attended Woodrow Wilson Junior College.
Robert began working as a grocery store delivery boy at A&P until he was hired by the United States Postal Service in 1951. Robert continued working there until his “retirement” in 1990 after thirty-four years of service. He, not satisfied with being idle, began his “second career” working for five years at IBM followed by five years at Prudential Insurance Company.
Robert remained a member of Friendship Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Rev. Shelvin Jerome Hall until he relocated to McKinney, Texas with his cousin, Kathleen. Rev. Hall jokingly commented, “I sure hope that girl is going to Heaven because he follows her everywhere she goes.” After relocating to McKinney, Robert joined First Melissa Church, under the leadership of Pastor Trey Graham, where he became a member and served on the Praise Team until his health began to fail in 2018.
While Robert’s love for singing began at an early age, he sang in his church choir, elementary school choir, high school choir, the Post Office choir and the Thompson Community Singers. In his free time, Robert loved to roller skate, read novels, and watch movies. He also loved traveling which afforded him the opportunity to visit Orlando, London, Paris, Egypt, and several Caribbean Islands.
Robert made his transition on July 3, 2021, at 2:40 P.M. He was preceded in death by his mother, Samella Nevels and grandmother, Anna Osborne. Robert leaves to mourn his passing while cherishing his memory, his loving cousin, Kathleen Clark, and her children, Dwayne, Keren, and Clinetta; four grand cousins, Kory, Destiny, Ali and Marlon; twelve great-grand cousins, including Charity Mikel, with whom he formed a special bond; and a host of additional relatives and friends.
“God touched him with his finger and he slept.”
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 16, 2021 at First Melissa Baptist Church, 2101 East Melissa Road, Melissa, Texas 75454.
The family will receive friends during a visitation Thursday afternoon from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.