Alfonso Nevels

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Alfonso “Al” Nevels, son of the late Mary and Andrew Nevels Sr., was born on June 24, 1934 in Newbern, Alabama.  Along with his parents and siblings, he moved to Wilmington, Ohio in 1952. Not long after, Al joined the Army in 1957.

While serving in the military, he met then Ruby Lee Williams, with whom he later united in holy matrimony in Detroit, Michigan on January 1, 1961. While living in Detroit, Al worked for a short period as a welding apprentice, and briefly for the Ford Motor Company. He and Ruby relocated to Wilmington, and eventually moved and settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where their union was blessed with two sons: Alan and Lorenzo Nevels.

Al pursued several business ventures, along with his brother Andrew “Andy” Nevels and friends from his military service. He pursued and cultivated his interest in architecture and building, and ultimately became a self-employed businessman; successfully working in construction and painting. As a general contractor, Al built several new homes, renovated houses, and painted numerous residential and commercial properties throughout both the Cleveland and Wilmington areas; eventually owning and managing several properties over his many years.

He was almost always seen in his white work clothes while moving about town. It is without surprise when asked about Alfonso Nevels, terms such as helpful, kind, humble, and introverted (to some degree) come up - but mostly hard working. And though each of these traits hold true, he also possessed a stubborn determination. In the mid-to-late 1960’s, Al moved his family to what was then one of the pricier zip codes in Ohio; doing this just so his sons could be educated through one of the best school systems in the country at the time.

We knew our father as a strong and ever-present figure in our lives; a man who showed up every night of our lives,

“Dad, we THANK YOU for holding our family down as head of our household over these many years. It was our honor to care for you, sit and talk with you, shave and wash you, and kiss your forehead as you dozed off to sleep. We hope we made you proud - as proud as we are of you. Though God chose to bring you home on this Father’s Day, HIS loving grace bestowed eternal rest and peace to you on Juneteenth, a monumental day of freedom. Though we deeply grieve your loss, we take comfort in knowing that you left this earth feeling loved and cared for. Rest well Dad, knowing that your life-long efforts and lessons were not lost on us. You reared two strong black men that will carry your memory and spirit forward.”     

Alfonso is preceded in death by his parents Andrew Nevels, Sr., and Mary E. Nevels; wife of over 59 years, Ruby L. Nevels; sisters Mary “Ruth” Ella Fitzgerald, and Virginia “Ginny” Kilgore (Late-Clifford Kilgore); brothers Eddie “Ed” Lee Nevels (Late-Betty) and Andrew “Andy” Nevels, Jr. (Late-Inge).

Survived and grieving Al’s passing are his sons, Alan J. Nevels, and Lorenzo J. Nevels; brothers Samuel Nevels, Sr. (Judy), and Leautry Nevels both of Wilmington, Daniel Nevels (Veronica) of Clayton, Ohio; nephew Robert Nevels (Gail) of South Euclid, Ohio, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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