Floyd Nelson remembered as a 'great guy'

Family and friends of Floyd "Pete" Nelson gathered yesterday to pay respects to the man who always brought a smile to their faces and lifted their hearts.

Mr. Nelson, father of the Orlando Magic basketball player Jameer Nelson, was last seen by coworkers at Hays Tug & Launch Service in Chester on Aug. 30 around lunchtime. His body was found in the Delaware River by a boater two days later. Rescuers believe he may have accidentally fallen into the river.

As early as 8 a.m. yesterday, more than 400 of Mr. Nelson's friends and coworkers lined up around St. Luke's Christian Church in Chester, waiting to pay respects to the family and attend the service. One of the speakers was Phil Martelli, basketball coach at St. Joseph's University, where Jameer Nelson once played.

Later, at a graveside service in Chester Rural Cemetery, mourners, including members of the Magic, listened as a Marine bugler played Taps. A folded American flag was presented to Jameer Nelson by a member of the color guard. Seven white doves were released.

Mr. Nelson, 57, a Marine veteran, was buried under a large, shady American Basswood tree in the Soldier's Circle section of the 144-year-old cemetery. A large U.S. flag flew at half-staff in his honor.

"He just had a heart of gold," said family friend Angela McKinney, 46, of Chester. She recalled how much Mr. Nelson loved his family and sports.

"He will be missed by a lot of children he used to coach," she said.

Dwayne Jones, 24, of Chester, a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, played with Jameer Nelson at St. Joseph's and has known the family since he was very young.

"He always had an encouraging word for me," said Jones, who recalled Mr. Nelson as a "great guy."

Mr. Nelson grew up in North Philadelphia and graduated from Simon Gratz High School before joining the Marines.

He served in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Purple Heart, and then in the reserve. He was a lance corporal when he was honorably discharged.

He went to work as a welder at Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. in Chester and later worked at the BP oil refinery in Marcus Hook.

"Pete was one of the most down-to-earth people you'd meet," said former BP coworker Howard Blair, 51, of Chester, who remembered his friend's sense of humor. "He kept you in stitches."

In 2004, Mr. Nelson wrote Jameer, a book about his son, who was a basketball standout at Chester High School. Jameer Nelson was drafted that year by the Magic and is now the starting point guard.

In addition to his son, Mr. Nelson is survived by sons Floyd Jr. and Maurice; daughters Althea Hanna and Tamira; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his former wife, Linda Billings; and his fiancee, Elsie Plummer.