Patricia Robbins Nelson

July 25, 1940 – December 16, 2025

Patricia Robbins Nelson, a woman of unwavering faith, tireless service, and a heart that welcomed everyone she met with genuine warmth, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2025.

Born on July 25, 1940, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Patricia was the daughter of the late Walter Fitzgerald Robbins Jr. and Emma Hearn Robbins. She grew up in Hamlet, North Carolina, where she developed the grit and grace that would define her long and impactful life. In 1962, she married the love of her life, Ralph Aldrich Nelson, with whom she shared many wonderful years before his passing in 2002.

Patricia's calling was found in caring for others. After graduating from REX Nursing School, she embarked on a remarkable career as a Registered Nurse that spanned over six decades. For thirty-five of those years, she was the steady right hand of Dr. Isaac Manly at Raleigh Surgical Associates. She later served as the OR Charge Nurse at Rex Hospital, where her leadership and compassion guided countless patients and colleagues through their most vulnerable moments.

Outside of the hospital, Patricia's hands were rarely still. She was a dedicated member of the Wake County Wildlife Club Women's Auxiliary and was a familiar, friendly face volunteering every year at the Dixie Deer Classic. Her deepest devotion, however, was to her Lord and her church families at Temple and then Trinity Baptist. Patricia lived her faith through action. Whether she was welcoming visitors as a greeter at the Recreational Outreach Center (ROC), organizing readers for the preschool, teaching her Sunday School class, or beautifying the sanctuary on the flower committee, she served with joy. She was also instrumental in the Healing Hands of Faith and Comfort Companion programs, providing support to others in their time of need—a testament to her innate empathy.

To know Patricia was to understand the true meaning of a servant's heart. Her love was an active force—found in the hand-written cards she sent, the meals she cooked, and the tireless hours she spent ensuring no one in her family, community, or church felt forgotten. Patricia found happiness in the simple yet beautiful things: a deep dive into a good book or spending time at the beach with friends. She was a master of country cooking and a spirited fan of the NC State Wolfpack.

Above all, she cherished her family. She is survived by her son, Walter Aldrich Nelson, and his wife, Emily Hubbard Nelson. Her greatest pride and joy were her grandsons, Luke Aldrich Nelson and Grady Wells Nelson, who will carry forward her legacy of kindness, strength, and service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations, in honor of Patricia's lifelong commitment to her faith and community, be made in her name to Trinity Baptist Church or the REX Nursing Excellence Fund.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Trinity Baptist Church, 4815 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, with a visitation at 11:00 a.m. and service at noon. Following the service, she will be laid to rest during a graveside service at Montlawn Memorial Park, 2911 S. Wilmington Street, Raleigh.