WILMINGTON — R. Michael Nelson (Mike), beloved husband of Tannis Flynn Nelson, passed away from the sudden onset of acute pancreatitis on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
He was born on March 4, 1949, in Chapel Hill, N.C., the eldest son of the late Rolla and Laura (Ann) Nelson of Wilmington. A sister, Mary Lynn Nelson Harwood, also predeceased him in August of 2020.
Surviving are his wife of over 52 years, Tannis; two children and their spouses: Laura Nelson Ford and husband Dr. Timothy R. Ford of Wilmington, N.C., and Steven Michael Nelson and wife Jessica Condrey Nelson of High Point, N.C. He was a well-loved “Grandpas” to 5 grandchildren, Brooks Nelson Ford, a student at N.C. State University, Timothy Wells Ford, Avery Grace, Sullivan, and Adeline Nelson. A brother, Dr. Gregory O. Nelson of Wilmington; brother-in-law, Stan Harwood; niece, Melissa H. Shaw; nephew, Clay Harwood, all of Greenville, N.C., and nephew, Kyle Nelson of Kingsport,Tennessee.
Mike was a graduate of New Hanover High School and a veteran who served in the United States Navy; he was honorably discharged in 1971. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1975. In 1997, he entered an advanced studies program in water quality development, associated with an international water quality program in India, to prepare for Ph.D. candidacy. In 2000, he received a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from St. George University, associated with London/Vikram University in Ujjain, India. An employee of General Electric as a Process Chemist for over 30 years, he also served as a part-time instructor at Cape Fear Community College.
In 1990, he established Nelson Environmental Consultants to provide services for establishing guidelines and delivering solutions that meet state and federal quality requirements. In 1998, he established Environmental Renewal Technologies LLC to develop a business focused on long-term, sustainable solutions and on the economic feasibility of the widespread installation of animal (swine) waste management systems. He presented programs in the United States and at International Conferences in India, Austria, Africa, and France to provide solutions for better water quality and sanitation worldwide. He authored and co-authored several articles in professional Wastewater Management journals.
He was ordained a Deacon and served in the family Deacon program at Winter Park Baptist Church. He also served as a videographer and assisted in producing the church services for television broadcast. Later, he and his family joined the First Baptist Church of Wilmington, where they became active members.
Mike was an enthusiastic supporter of all of Tannis’ endeavors, whether it was collecting used laptops for high school students that he refurbished, establishing reading centers in public housing locations, or collecting and delivering thousands of lightly used books for children to read over the summer. He supported her working with representatives, governors, legislators, the North Carolina State Board of Education, and serving on nonprofit boards at the local, state, and national levels, as she advocated for teachers, children, and youth.
In lieu of flowers, those desiring to honor Mike may send a memorial gift to the First Baptist Church of Wilmington, North Carolina, 411 Market Street, Wilmington, N.C. 28401, or the Tannis F. Nelson Endowed Scholarship, c/o UNCW, 601 South College Rd. Wilmington, N.C. 28403. Mike and Tannis established the scholarship in 2021. They desired to provide financial assistance to future teachers and educational leaders enrolled in the Watson College of Education at UNCW.
