Obituary of Nelson Eddie Dailey

Nelson Eddie Dailey, 81, of West Columbia, went to his heavenly home on September 17th, after a long battle with multiple illnesses.  He was born in Columbia, SC on September 21, 1936 and grew up in the Olympia area near Williams Brice Stadium where he graduated from Olympia High School in 1955. He completed U.S. Navy service from May 1956 to May 1959 ranked SK2 E-5 Bureau of Supplies/Accts.  He attended the University of SC from 1960 to 1962 majoring in Electrical Engineering, and then attended DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago Illinois for 13 months for Electrical Design. He returned to Columbia, SC where he met and later married Uva Janell Asbill on December 22, 1963. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Electronics Technical Engineering from Midlands Technical College attending from 1963 to 1965, making Deans List in 1965 and graduating with Honors.

After graduation he began a long career in Quality Control Engineering working for prominent South Carolina manufacturing companies including Sunbeam Appliance, Argus Camera, B.F. Goodrich, Colite Industries, Ducane Heating, Risdon Enterprises, and Norris Industries. He was a member of The American Society of Quality Control for 14 years.  Later in his career he worked as an Insurance Salesman retiring with Independent Life Insurance.  After retirement he worked part-time for HIS HOUSE Ministries in West Columbia assisting and ministering to men with various addictions.

Nelson, or ‘Gamecock Nelson’ as he was known by some close to him, is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Uva Janell Dailey; daughter, Jan D. Smith (Ron); sons, Kevin E. Dailey (Karen), Marlin L. Dailey (Frances); sisters, Brenda Hare, Gale Kinard; brothers, Kenneth Dailey, Leroy Dailey and William Dailey.  He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Donald (T-Bone) Dailey and half-brother, Jimmy Smith.

‘Gamecock Nelson’ was loved by many.  He had a deep love and devotion for his wife, Uva, who he loved until his last heartbeat.  He also had a great love for music and traveled for some time with “Doug Watts & The Sunny Side Boys” Bluegrass Gospel Band where he specialized playing his favorite instrument … the fiddle.  He continued playing with fellow musicians nearly every Friday night until his health did not allow it.  He also loved sports and was known as a Huge USC Gamecock fan, regardless of the sport but especially Gamecock Football.  His family did not leave his presence without saying “Go Gamecocks!” to which he would reply “that’s right, Go Gamecocks!” He was a devout Christian who studied the Bible intently and shared his Faith and the message of the Gospel wherever he went.  He taught Sunday School at Hilltop Baptist Church (now Hilltop Community Church) in Gilbert for 30+ years where he met his wife and raised his children.  His spiritual calling took him to West Columbia Pentecostal Holiness Church where he continued teaching and ministering through outreach programs incorporating music and teaching to address the unique needs of troubled teenagers at Three Rivers and DJJ.  He had a passion to reach others for Christ and a unique gift to relate the story of Jesus to the youth even up to 80 years of age.  His one regret near the end was that he could no longer share the Faith God had given him with young people who needed to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.  He also enjoyed hunting and fishing and looked forward to ‘feeling that tug on the line’ as he would say.  He was a man of many interests and passions but none more important to him than his Faith, his wife, his family, playing the fiddle, and of course the Gamecocks!

The family will receive friends at Thompson Funeral Home in Lexington on September 21, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on September 22, 2018 at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington.  Interment will be in Hilltop Community Church Cemetery in Gilbert, SC.  

The family would like to give special thanks to the members of Hospice Care of South Carolina for all their care and assistance over the past several months.