Jackson Free Press

JACKSON — BRANDON, Miss. (AP) — Dr. Norman C. Nelson, a former vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, is dead at the age of 86. The medical school's student union is named after Dr. Norman Nelson, who retired in 1994 after 21 years at the university.

He died Thursday at his home in Brandon, according to Ott and Lee Funeral Home of Brandon says Nelson. Cause of death was not given.

Before moving to Mississippi as vice chancellor for health affairs, Nelson was dean of the Louisiana State University medical school in New Orleans.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday morning at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Flowood, with burial that evening in Lafayette Louisiana. Nelson will be buried in Holy Mary Mother of God Cemetery.

Under Nelson, the Medical Center grew from two health professional schools, a teaching hospital and a small research program to four health professional schools, a major teaching hospital and a robust research program. The campus - and the largest, funded physical plant expansion package in the state's educational history. Ten new buildings were authorized and constructed during his tenure.

He lived in Mississippi and Houston, Texas, during primary and secondary school, getting his bachelor's and medical degres at Tulane University in New Orleans.

He interned at Charity Hospital of New Orleans, and was a resident there from 1958-62. In between, he spent a year in private practice and 1956-1958 on active duty as a captain in the Medical Corps, U.S. Army Reserve 101st Airborne Division. He joined the LSU surgery faculty in 1963, became the medical school's associate dean in 1969 and dean in 1971.

Nelson is survived by his wife, Annie Lee, their children, two nephews and their children.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Institute.