Obituary of Nellie Pearl Anthony

Nellie Pearl Anthony (Nee Palmer), age 80, passed away in Inspira Medical Center in Vineland on Thursday, June 17, 2021. Born on April 3, 1941, in Waynesboro, Georgia, she was the daughter of Branch Prince Palmer and Lula Mae Jones. Nellie grew up in Waynesboro, Georgia where she was mainly raised by her paternal grandmother and father. It was a large household of extended family, and besides her siblings, she grew up alongside her cousins. Everyone had chores. Since Nellie grew up on a farm, she was responsible for taking care of the chickens and hogs. She would have to put the mules out to pasture and then bring them back in at night and put them in the pen. Because of the need to help out at home, Nellie wasn’t able to attend school as often as she wanted. She was able to make it to the 9th grade. In 1962 Nellie married Roosevelt Anthony and relocated to Cedarville, New Jersey. She continued to do farm work. In 1965 she found work at B & B Poultry in Norma, New Jersey. Her job was to de-feather chickens. She worked there approximately two years. For a brief period she relocated to Deerfield, Florida where she did farm work again. Later on she found a job at a local laundry. She ran the machine that pressed shirt sleeves and collars. The family relocated back to New Jersey and Nellie briefly did farm work again until she found a job at Georgia Pacific which was a basket factory. She sorted good wood from bad and she also made baskets. Nellie worked at the basket factory until it closed down which was about four and a half years. In 1972 she began her career with Wheaton Glass Company in Millville, New Jersey where she worked for 28 years until she reluctantly had to retire in 2000 due to health concerns. Nellie always enjoyed visits at her home from Jehovah’s Witnesses, studying the Bible with them, attending their meetings, conventions and assemblies, and reading their literature. She would often say “Jehovah has been good to me.” Another thing that Nellie loved was gardening. She always had a vegetable and flower garden. She loved to plant and watch it grow. You couldn’t visit her without her taking you to the back yard to show you her garden. Nellie also enjoyed shopping for clothes, shoes and pocketbooks. She also enjoyed going out to eat. Nellie touched the lives of her family and friends in different ways, and she will always be in the memory of all who knew her. Nellie leaves to cherish her memory her son, DeAngelo Anthony of Millville NJ; daughter Jeanette Anthony of Millville NJ; son Craig Anthony of Millville, NJ; daughter Robin Bonner (Andrew, Sr.) of Bridgeton, NJ; son Kenneth Shawn Anthony of Woodbury, NJ; and son Derrick Jermaine Anthony of Millville, New Jersey. Nellie is also survived by five grandchildren: Desmond D. Anthony, Kiandra Anthony, John L. Chestnut, Jr., Andrew K. Bonner, Jr., and McKensi Chestnut. She also has four great-grandchildren: Keon Ruiz, Kennedy Sydnor, Micala Chestnut and Kendrick Sydnor. She also leaves to cherish her memory, a sister, Jessie Mae Freeman of Ft. Lauderdale Florida, a brother Branch “Clarence” Palmer, Jr. of Pahokee, Florida; sisters Ruby Freeman and Dorothy Jones of Georgia and brothers Frank Williams, Larry Jones and John Freeman of Georgia. Nellie was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two sisters Levora Bennett and Anna Jones, a brother, Curtis Jones and her friend Narciso DeJesus Cruz. Funeral services will be held at the PADGETT FUNERAL HOME, 1107 State Highway 77, Upper Deerfield Twp. on Friday, June 25th at 12 NOON. Interment will take place at Fernwood Memorial Park, 794 Shiloh Pike, Bridgeton, NJ 08302. Friends will be received at the funeral home from 10 AM to 12 NOON prior to the services. Written condolences can be sent to the family though the funeral home website at www.padgettfuneralhomes.com.