Deacon Nathaniel Welch

Deacon Nathaniel Eugene Welch Sr. of Tampa, FL passed away on Monday, January 27, 2025. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025, 11:00 a.m. at Allen Temple AME Church, 2101 N. Lowe Street, Tampa, FL 33605 with Pastor Rocky Vann, Officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery, 4615 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa, FL 33610.

Deacon Nathaniel Eugene Welch Sr. was born on January 31, 1942, in Clearwater, Florida to the late Samuel and Eliza Welch. He answered the Master’s call to eternal Heaven on January 27, 2025. Nathaniel, along with his parents and siblings, moved to Tampa where they resided in the neighborhoods of West Tampa and historic Dobyville now known as West Hyde Park. He was educated in the Hillsborough County school system attending Dobyville Elementary, Dunbar Middle and Blake High schools. It was at Blake High school where he excelled in sports, most notably football and baseball. However, baseball was the sport he was most passionate about. He played baseball for the Tampa Trojans, an all-African American travel baseball team and for the Old Timers baseball club. He also played for Top Secret softball team where he affectionately became known as “Five”. In 1980, Nathaniel, along with his late brother Samuel and late lifelong friends Jimmie Lee and Herman Gilchrist, became the first African American team to play in the Hillsborough County Commissioner’s Annual Golf Tournament.

Nathaniel began his occupational career with Renia Brothers & Company as a truck driver. Upon their closure he transitioned careers to water service as a meter reader for Hillsborough County and then eventually the City of Tampa. In April 2007 he received the mayor’s appreciation award for rescuing a wheelchair bound woman from a burning house while on duty.  He retired from the City of Tampa as a service attendant after 30yrs of dedicated service. Nathaniel accepted Christ and became a member of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. He was ordained as a Deacon on September 18, 2016.

Nathaniel was preceded in death by: his one daughter, Leslie Welch; one granddaughter, Jessica Singletary; parents, Samuel and Eliza Welch; three brothers, Albert Welch, Jimmy Welch Sr., and Samuel Welch Sr.; and three sisters-in-law, Judy Welch, Deborah Johnson, and Bonnie Wigfall.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving and devoted wife of 54 years, Louise Welch;  three sons, Nathaniel Welch Jr., Gary Welch  (Erica), and Antonio Newson; three daughters, Renita Comer (Tyrone), Tamika Shellman, and Maria Welch; two step daughters, Alicia Gilchrist and Charlotte Smith; two adoptive sons, Anthony Oliver and Gerald Davis Jr. (Jenn); 19 grandchildren, Alexia Smith, Aric Smith, Kanisha Harris, Nathaniel Welch III, Tyshondra Comer, Tyeishia Comer (Johnny), Tyrone Comer Jr. (Misha), Tyneshia Comer, Larika Welch, Alyshia Blair, Terrell Blair Jr., Gary Welch II, KeAira Roberts, Marcus Johnson (Desiree), Rian Gilchrist (Ericha), Christopher Shellman, Aja Davis, Preston George, and Alani Newson; 34 great grandchildren; one sister, Jean Welch;  two brothers, Gene Welch Sr. and Eddie Welch Sr.; one sister-in-law, Birdie Welch; five brothers-in-law, Robert Carroll (Gail), Curtis Carroll, Michael Carroll (Mary), James Wigfall, and Maurice Johnson; and a host of loving nieces, nephews and extended family members and friends.

Special acknowledgement to the Gilchrist, Rose, Jackson, Billups, Fosters, Washington, Albury, Johnson, Beckham, and Contreras families.

A visitation will be held on Friday, February 14, 2025, at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes and Northern, Owners.

www.raywilliamsfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Deacon Nathaniel Welch, please visit our floral store.