Nellie Awls made her journey to heaven on Friday, October 28, 2016 at Ebeid Promedica Hospice Center, Sylvania, Ohio. Nellie lived a long and fulfilling life, as a wife, mother and woman of God.

Nellie was born April 20, 1923 to Marshal and Ella Barnes in Columbia, Mississippi and was the fourth oldest of 13 children.

Nellie married her childhood sweetheart, Loney Awls on February 13, 1941. Loney and Nellie were inseparable and they cherished their union until both departed this world. To this loving union five children were born. They moved from Mississippi to Toledo, Ohio in 1951 to provide a better life for them and their children. Nellie was a wonderful and dedicated wife, and a loving mother. She always put God and family first!
Nellie accepted Christ at an early age and was a faithful member of True Light Pentecostal Church of Toledo, Ohio. She was involved in many ministries; choir member, usher board, cook, prayer warrior and oldest active member of the church. Nellie’s favorite song was “What a Mighty God We Serve” and she loved singer Mahalia Jackson.

Nellie was a meek woman, who spoke little, but when she spoke she did so with influence. In her young days she was a tomboy by heart, beating her brothers at all the “boy” games. As a mother, there is a story that is told by Claude Awls that Nellie carried a switchblade knife to protect him during a very racist time in the southern culture in America namely, Mississippi.

It is a true testament of a mother’s character when as the scripture says “her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her (Proverbs 21, kjv)” – Nellie’s husband and children all call her blessed. She was blessed indeed!

Nellie was preceded in death by her parents; (husband) Loney Awls; (daughter) Linda Awls; (brothers) Marshall, Claude, Milton and Fred Barnes; (sisters) Emma Faulkner, Geraldine and Leola Johnson, and Marjorie Woullard.

She leaves to cherish her memory daughter Bobbie Jean (Herbert) Higgins, sons Claude (Rosalyn), Loney (Gail), and Michael (Joy) Awls all of Toledo, Ohio. Sisters Dorothy (Dr. Cecil) Coes of Cincinnati, Ohio; Jeanette Carpenter; brothers Eddie (Bernice) Barnes of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Raymond Barnes of Toledo, Ohio;18 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

One of Nellie’s last wishes was to attend the 2016 family reunion in Gulfport, Mississippi, to see all her family one more time. She informed the family that God promised her she would see it, and God’s promise was fulfilled. Nellie was asked if she could leave her family with three words what would they be- she smiled and said “I Love You!”


 

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