Reverend John Wiley Nelson, 85, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2025, at Cape Cod Hospital, surrounded by his family. The Rev lived a life both large and intimate, as his family and community described him as a servant of justice, a lifelong learner, a non-judgmental listener, a man beating to his own rhythm, and a lover of simple pleasures.
  
The Rev was born on October 29, 1939, in Camden, NJ. His childhood was spent in Woodbury, New Jersey, Dallas, Texas, and Westfield, NJ, as well as traveling on cross-country road trips. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Pennsylvania State University and his Doctor of Philosophy in Systematic Theology from the University of Chicago. The Rev was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement during graduate school, including being present at the March on Washington in 1963, where he witnessed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. This experience profoundly influenced his lifelong commitment to justice.
The Rev was a tenured assistant professor at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He then earned his moniker as the pastor of the historic First Presbyterian Church of Trenton, NJ. His ministry focused on empowering historically oppressed communities using multiple mediums. He was a published author and lecturer. In collaboration with his wife, the Rev served as an administrator of Trenton Academy, an innovative education center serving inner-city children. He created the Hanover Street Ministry, which educated the Trenton community about topics related to systemic racism and racial oppression. He was on the board of the Children’s Home Society, the Greater Trenton Community Mental Health Center, and the Kingsbury Corporation, the latter of which organized subsidized housing for low-income families. He introduced Pride to Trenton and was the first president of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. The Rev’s service continued after moving to Provincetown, MA where he officiated local weddings, christenings, and funerals for those without a church home and counseled for those in need.

The Rev continued life as a singer songwriter producing over a dozen albums in his later years.  His songs featured themes on life, love, death, and the beauty of Provincetown.  Those songs brought great joy to the frequent gatherings held in the Filiberto-Nelson homestead. One song is featured in the world-famous Jack’s Barbeque in Nashville, TN, where his picture hangs in Jack’s Wall of Fame.
 
By invitation, the Rev joined the board of directors at WOMR radio station in Provincetown. He assumed leadership as station manager during a time of crisis and led the station to a path of stability and strength.  He ran a successful fundraising campaign to build a new antenna, which allowed the station to broadcast Provincetown's music and culture across the Cape and beyond. After his term as a board member, he ran a bluegrass show called Bradford Street Bluegrass for several years. He is annually celebrated at WOMR on 11/22 – John Nelson Day.

In his personal life, The Rev had a profound passion for popular culture. He introduced his children to the timeless classics of Stanley Kubrik, Spaghetti Westerns, and black-and-white Samurai films. The Rev was an avid sports fan, witnessing several dynasties over his life; he held a season ticket during the Steel Curtain era and sat in the end zone during the Immaculate Reception. He passed his support for the Pittsburgh Steelers onto his children and grandchildren. 

Despite his numerous records of service and many accomplishments, The Rev made no comment on his life of greatness. He was content to let himself be known through simple daily connections with his friends and family. In his final years, The Rev was happiest in his chair, working on crossword puzzles with the football game on, surrounded by the giggling of his grandchildren and hearing stories from his family and friends. These things formed the chorus of life that he cultivated over many hard years. 

The Rev is preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth Naso Nelson and Theodore Wirt Nelson, brother, Paul Richard Nelson, and son, Chrisopher Wiley Nelson. He is survived by his charismatic wife, Terese Filiberto Nelson; siblings, Susan Nelson Elliot and Barbara Eleanor Nelson; children, Travis McHugh Nelson, Wiley Louise Dinnal, Dylan Christopher Nelson, and Molly Elizabeth Stinson; his children’s spouses, Cindy Snow, Kirk “Silky” Dinnal, Michelle Fernando, and Dylan Stinson; and grandchildren: Milo and Liam Nelson; Noah, Eli, Zara, and Sadie Dinnal; and Arthur and Jade Stinson. The Rev also leaves behind many family and friends who have been influenced by his caring words. They will now carry his legacy forward.

A funeral service in honor of John “The Rev” Nelson will be held on February 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the First Congregational Parish, 3 First Parish Lane, Truro, MA, 02666. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to WOMR Radio online at https://gofund.me/db50bc56 or by mail at WOMR, PO BOX 975, Provincetown, MA 02657.



 
 

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