Nelda Elizabeth Forbes
Nelda Elizabeth Lavinder Forbes
May 5, 1933-May 20, 2024
On the evening of May 20, 2024, with her children by her side, God freed His precious and faithful servant Nelda Forbes from the bondage of frailty and sickness and called her home to begin her glorious eternal heavenly life with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There she joined Frank, her beloved husband of almost 67 years, her parents Jesse and Lula Lavinder, her brother Wilburn, and many other family members and friends.
A native Roanoker, Nelda graduated from Jefferson High School. She then worked as a bookkeeper until she married Frank in January 1956. She found her true calling in life as a wife, mother, and full time homemaker, and together with Frank built a Christ-centered life and home filled with laughter and love, joy and peace. Nelda was Frank’s helpmate as he worked hard running the family business, and she was her children’s head cheerleader and support through anything and everything they strove to accomplish from birth to present day. Because of her love for people, the Forbes home was always open to others, and Nelda was often a listening ear and second mother to her friends and neighbors and her children’s friends. Her gift of hospitality shone through constantly; birthday and holiday celebrations, luncheons and dinner parties, bridal and baby showers, church group meetings and fellowships, and card and game nights with dear friends were very regular occurrences.
For all of us, she modeled kindness, patience, and grace; she practiced gratitude and treated everyone as equal and worthy of love and respect. She met no strangers and could talk with anyone she met, thereby brightening their day! Nelda nurtured and cared for others with excellence-most notably demonstrated in her loving care of her parents in their last years and of her dear Frank when he developed long term health challenges. Most importantly, Nelda showed us what a life grounded in the love and study of God’s Word looks like, always reminding us that the scriptures are alive and active in us and a vital instruction manual for life. She taught us what a true prayer warrior looks like, and she was indeed one of the best.
Next to her Lord and family, Nelda’s greatest love was her church, Belmont Baptist, where she spent her entire life, having been on the cradle roll there. She spent decades serving God in countless ways until failing health brought that long and prosperous season to a close. Her magnificent soprano voice was a gift from God, and she used it to praise Him and bless others as she sang in choirs and ensembles and as a soloist for many years. Nelda had a huge heart for missions and worked in various roles in the Women’s Missionary Union and as a member of the Laura Gray Stewart Circle. She spiritually guided and mentored teens in GA’s and Acteens and as a volunteer worker in Youth Ministry. Nelda spent several years on the Board of Directors of the local Baptist Mission Centers. Lastly, she served for many years with great passion in the vibrant Belmont Food Pantry Ministry, first as a volunteer, then as Director into her early 80’s. This ministry which was primarily carried out by senior adults met the food needs of many in the SE area of our city.
Nelda loved keeping a beautifully decorated and immaculate home, had a very green thumb that made any plant she touched thrive, and was a magnificent master cross stitcher and a voracious reader.
As Frank’s health declined, Nelda’s did also, although she continued to contribute greatly to his care even with home caregivers in place. After his passing in late 2022, she experienced a very rapid decline in health herself. That took her to her final earthly home-Brandon Oaks NRC in February 2023. The marvelous staff of the Blue Ridge Unit became a new part of our family as they cared for Nelda with skill, compassion, love, and good humor. Despite her ever increasing physical and cognitive losses, they could still see and feel Nelda’s love, gentility, kindness, sweetness, and sense of gratitude. God continued to use her in ministry in her last days, even though she no longer had the ability to recognize it. This was fully evidenced by the numbers of staff that visited her room in those final hours to weep with us, tell stories of what she had meant to them, and say their goodbyes to one who had so impacted them even in her frailty and toughest season of life. Our family is overwhelmed and forever grateful to these extraordinary long term caregivers who went the extra mile in the care they rendered and for the compassionate and loving spirits they demonstrated.
Nelda is survived by her beloved children; daughters, Dawn Forbes (Scott Anderson) and Jill Winston (Allen); son, Jeffrey Forbes (Donna); grandchildren, Colin Forbes, Ian Forbes, and Erinn Forbes; sister-in-law, Donna Lavinder, and several nieces and nephews.
A private family service will be held to celebrate and honor Nelda. We ask that you celebrate and honor her by treating all those you encounter as equal and with love and respect and by meeting the needs of others when you see them. Memorial donations are welcome, and to honor Nelda’s love of God’s Word, they may be made to The Gideons International (www.gideons.org/donate).
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:28-9
“…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Well done Nelda, well done! Welcome to GLORY!
