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==Biography==

==Biography==

Nelson was born in Colfax in Grant Parish in north central Louisiana. She received her early education from the J. B. LaFarge School in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in Rapides Parish. On June 20, 1929, she earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[nursing]] from the [[Tuskegee Institute]] in Tuskegee, [[Alabama]], an historically black college, which included [[George Washington Carver]] and [[Booker T. Washington]] on the faculty and in the administration. After her Tuskegee years, Nelson taught at Bishop College in Marshall, [[Texas]]. She was also the dean of women at Bishop, another historically black institution which opened its doors in 1881 and closed permanently in 1988 after relocation to [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], Texas.

Nelson was born in Colfax in Grant Parish in north central Louisiana. She received her early education from the J. B. LaFarge School in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] in Rapides Parish. On June 20, 1929, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in [[nursing]] from the [[Tuskegee Institute]] in Tuskegee, [[Alabama]], an historically black college, which included [[George Washington Carver]] and [[Booker T. Washington]] on the faculty and in the administration. After her Tuskegee years, Nelson taught at Bishop College in Marshall, [[Texas]]. She was also the dean of women at Bishop, another historically black institution which opened its doors in 1881 and closed permanently in 1988 after relocation to [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], Texas.

Thereafter, Nelson worked as a nurse at a hospital on [[Rikers Island]] in [[New York City]], where one of her patients for a time was Mary Mallon, known as "[[Typhoid Mary]]". She was later recruited by the Red Cross for duty with the [[United States Army]] Nurse Corps during [[World War II]]. She achieved the rank of [[major]] before she retired from the Army and returned to her home area in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], across the [[Red River]] from the larger city of Alexandria. She was a nurse for the Cenla [Central Louisiana] Community Action Committee, the Alexandria-Pineville "anti-poverty" program established by [[Great Society]] legislation. She worked in area [[hospital]]s, [[nursing home]]s and did volunteer work for many years.

Thereafter, Nelson worked as a nurse at a hospital on Rikers Island in [[New York City]], where one of her patients for a time was Mary Mallon, known as "[[Typhoid Mary]]". She was later recruited by the Red Cross for duty with the [[United States Army]] Nurse Corps during [[World War II]]. She achieved the rank of [[major]] before she retired from the Army and returned to her home area in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], across the [[Red River]] from the larger city of Alexandria. She was a nurse for the Cenla [Central Louisiana] Community Action Committee, the Alexandria-Pineville "anti-poverty" program established by [[Great Society]] legislation. She worked in area [[hospital]]s, [[nursing home]]s and did volunteer work for many years.

On December 27, 1998, then [[Mayor]] Fred H. Baden issued a proclamation declaring "Gertrude Nelson Day" in Pineville. It was one day after her hundredth birthday.

On December 27, 1998, then [[Mayor]] Fred H. Baden issued a proclamation declaring "Gertrude Nelson Day" in Pineville. It was one day after her hundredth birthday.

Nelson died in the Veterans Affairs Medical Nursing Home in Pineville, aged 102 years and eleven months. She was survived by two adopted children, Gerald Williams of [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], and Linda Nelson of the Taylor Hill community in Rapides Parish.

Nelson died in the Veterans Affairs Medical Nursing Home in Pineville, aged 102 years and eleven months. She was survived by two adopted children, Gerald Williams of [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]], and Linda Nelson of the Taylor Hill community in Rapides Parish.

Services were held in Nelson's home church, the Union [[Baptist]] Church in Colfax. Interment was in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Pineville with full military honors through the Alexandria/Pineville Veterans Honor Guard. She often attended the Good Hope Baptist Church in Pineville.

Services were held in Nelson's home church, the Union [[Baptist]] Church in Colfax. Interment was in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Pineville with full military honors through the Alexandria/Pineville Veterans Honor Guard. She often attended the Good Hope Baptist Church in Pineville.

[[Category:Texas]]

[[Category:Texas]]

[[Category:New York City]]

[[Category:New York City]]

[[Category:Nurses]]

[[Category:American nurses]]

[[Category:African Americans]]

[[Category:Blacks]]