Rev. Samuel A. Nelson was born February 2, 1886, in Cherokee County, Texas to Wesley and Pearlie Nelson. Two sons were born to this union, Samuel and Johnny Nelson. Their mother passed away when Samuel was the age of four and their father passed when he was the age of seven. Samuel and Johnny were reared by their grandmother growing up in a small community never having more than the bear necessities of life. He completed his early schooling in Rock Hill Public School system, Rock Hill, Texas. He attended Paul Quin College for two years.

In 1903, he came under the care of the Angelina Presbytery at the age of 17 and began his first pastorate, the first Sunday in February, 1910, in Waco, Texas. He was chosen Sunday School Evangelist for the State of Texas in 1912.

A man that has undergone many hardships, loneliness of earthly friends, hunger, had many sleepless nights, and a man who walked and talked with God was the late Rev. S. A. Nelson. Through struggles, tribulations, hardship and the love of God, he has organized many churches and has many mission points credited to his never tiring efforts. Not only has Rev. Nelson's life touched so many through the establishing churches but he saw the need for trained leadership. Through the efforts of Rev. Nelson we had three young men to enter Bethel College in an In-Service Training Program, Rev. D. S. Smith, the late Rev. W. H. Nichols and the late Rev. E. L. Wallace. Then he continued to plead for our church and the late Rev. J. I. Hill, Jr. was the recipient of being the first student to attend Bethel Theology College. Through the continued efforts of Rev. Nelson, one of our dynamic leaders, Rev. Joel Rice, was the first full time academic student to attend Bethel College. He has helped to educate approximately ten young people throughout our church.

Rev. Nelson was the first Negro to be a fraternal delegate to the white Cumberland Presbyterian Church Synod in Selina, Texas in 1913, Collin County. He served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1955 and 1956.

He helped organize the Interdenominational choir here in Muskogee. Then he moved on to do more mission work in the city of Tulsa, where he organized the church there.

His guidance to both young and old, his inspiration to all and especially to young men in the ministry, his dedicated service to our general church, shall be remembered by all who knew and loved him and blessed by having known him.

At the time of his death he was still working for the Lord, preaching the word of God at the Synod meeting held in Nashville, Tennessee at the Ransom Temple Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was also the active pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Muskogee, Oklahoma, the church he founded. He was also the host pastor of the 1970 General Assembly.

He is survived by two devoted cousins, Mrs. Pearl Hicks of Jacksonville, Texas and Mrs. Caria Linthicum of San Antonio, Texas; four nephews, Charles and Jonathan Wallace of Fort Worth, Texas; Theodore and Earnest Wallace of Dallas, Texas; four nieces, Mrs. Maudell Wallace and Mrs. Dora Wallace of Fort Worth, Mrs. Carey Wallace and Mrs. Pat Wallace of Dallas; sister-in-law, Mrs. Limma Wallace of Dallas, and a host of other relatives and friends.
[Source: "Obsequies of the Late Rev. Samuel A. Nelson"]