FLINT, MI--Roxie Nelson’s father, Edward Nelson, never shied away from speaking up for others and offering a helping hand.

Edward Nelson, president of AFSCME Hurley Medical Center Employees Local 1603, died Monday, April 13 from COVID-19 at the hospital where he worked for so long.

He was 65 and planning to retire at the end of the month.

Roxie Nelson remembers her father as being witty, fun-loving and compassionate. Edward Nelson was the kind of person who “wanted to fight for people who didn’t always have a voice.”

“His constant guidance, whether you wanted it or not, is going to be missed because it showed how much he cared,” Roxie Nelson said. “He was my superman. I knew if I needed anything I could call my daddy.”

The middle child in a family of seven, Edward Nelson was known for his generosity and “getting things done.” Kerry Nelson, his youngest brother, said Edward worked hard to make his community better.

Edward Nelson was a protective older brother and graduated from Flint’s Northern High School. He worked at General Motors for some time, like his father John L. Nelson, before joining Hurley Medical Center as a carpenter in 1989.

“He was a pillar of strength and support to all that knew him,” Kerry Nelson said. “His death has left us with so much pain and so much sadness.”

Edward Nelson became union president at Hurley six years ago, according to Kerry Nelson. Union leadership runs in Edward Nelson’s family, his brother said. Edward served three consecutive terms as the union’s president before passing away.

“He was a strong leader and was passionate about protecting the rights of his members," said Melany Gavulic, Hurley Medical Center President and CEO. "We send our sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and union members. He will be deeply missed.”

Edward Nelson’s devotion to helping others is unmatched, according to his family. If someone in his neighborhood needed their grass cut or their driveway shoveled, Edward would do it.

“Whatever someone needed, he would try to do it for them,” Roxie Nelson said.

Roxie Nelson grew up in Flint but now lives in New Jersey where she works on gene therapy and oncology research. Her family is “very tight-knit," she said. Roxie Nelson remembers when she was 39-years-old and living in North Carolina. She got sick and ended up in the hospital.

That day, Edward Nelson and his brothers piled into a car and drove down to visit her. Roxie Nelson said her uncles are like extended fathers to her.

“He just needed to see me and make sure I was doing okay,” Roxie Nelson said. “He was just that kind of person. He was really sweet like that.”

In high school, she remembers working at McDonald’s on a snowy night and noticing one of her headlights had gone out. Surely, Edward Nelson showed up and replaced the headlight in the parking lot.

“If he could fix it he would and if he couldn’t he would find someone that could fix it,” Roxie Nelson said.

His leadership shined as union president for Hurley employees, his family said.

“Some people can leave work and their job is done until the next day, well that’s not Ed. He was never done," Kerry Nelson said. "He was always taking calls and he would listen to people.”

Seven years ago, Edward Nelson was at the hospital being prepped for heart surgery. Roxie Nelson remembers waiting with Edward as he talked on the phone handling “union business because it was important to him.”

Even when Edward Nelson was being placed on the ventilator because of COVID-19, he was talking to the hospital staff about contracts and who they knew in their departments, Roxie said.

“I was like, ‘Daddy, is this your comfort zone?’ The union was always at the forefront of his mind,” Roxie Nelson said.

Roxie Nelson was there for her father telephonically. While hospitalized for the virus, Edward Nelson called her saying that he was having trouble breathing. Roxie Nelson spoke to him and his nurse via speakerphone and advised him it may be time to get on a ventilator.

“I said, ‘Daddy I will talk to you until you have to get off the phone’ and I told him I would see him when he woke up,” Roxie Nelson said. “It’s not just tragic for us but I think about all the other people that are going through it. I will say that the doctors and nurses were really awesome and did a wonderful job. They did everything they could.”

Edward Nelson put up a fight against the virus, his family said. He was hospitalized for 13 days.

“He really did try,” Roxie Nelson said. “The last time I saw him was via video on Monday. I was able to say my goodbyes that morning.”

Edward Nelson was a “really strong force and figure” for his family.

“We’re still really in shock from it. His presence just can’t be replaced. It’s truly irreplaceable, he truly was one in a million,” Roxie Nelson said.

While Edward Nelson had a quiet demeanor, Roxie said if something needed to be done, he would do it. His strong will to help people is passed down to his children and siblings.

“We gained so many extra family members because of how people remember him. He laid out a great path for people to follow,” Roxie Nelson said.

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