THE FOLLOWING IS FROM JENNIFER BAILEY’S NEWS-GAZETTE “BAILEY BUZZ” COLUMN
ABOVE: Owen Lee Nelson turned 98 on Saturday. (Photo
Owen might not get out as much as she used to, but she was celebrated on her 98th birthday at a sixth-generation family gathering during the weekend.
“Long live the queen,” proclaimed granddaughter Tina Nelson-Jackson, who lives in Georgia, about her grandmother. “She is truly a phenomenal woman.”
In addition to being a longtime community activist living in Danville’s east side Elmwood Park neighborhood, Owen also has been a foster mother, child advocate, author, college grad, Christian education leader, dietitian and trendsetter.
Not all family members could make the weekend celebration. However, it was about 35 family members strong traveling from various locations including Georgia and Ohio.
Nelson-Jackson said they also had to pivot, moving the gathering from the Beef House in Covington, Ind., which had a fire recently, to Outback Steakhouse in Champaign.
Nelson-Jackson said they have “just a blessed family,” and her grandmother is “doing so good.”
“It was amazing,” she said of the family gathering, adding it’s rare to have so many generations present.
FOR MORE FROM “BAILEY BUZZ” COLUMN PLEASE GO TO https://www.news-gazette.com/bailey_buzz/the-bailey-buzz-nov-5-2026/article_422d771a-caf7-4d21-8f74-8dfbf9cde99f.html
