Nelba J. Yaden, 90, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2021 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 2021, at First Baptist Church with Pastor Howell Scott officiating.
Nelba J. Yaden was born in Sulphur Springs, Texas, to Walter and Nannie Etta Browning Jennings on April 21, 1930. She grew up at Buckner Orphans’ Home near Dallas, TX. Nelba moved to Carlsbad in 1957. She and Daniel Yaden were married November 5, 1959 and resided in Carlsbad, NM.
Nelba dedicated her life to caring for others, and always with a smile on her face. She truly lived and believed that “helping others is what life is all about.” Nelba was a full-time mother, devoted Nana and loved by so many in the community. She worked for St. Francis Hospital before working for Guadalupe Medical Center where she worked for 35 years in the admissions department. She always found time to see to the needs of others as well as those of her seven children. In 1978 she was the national Dr. Frist Humanitarian award winner and presented the award at a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. She was selected out of 36,000 employees in 113 HCA hospitals throughout the nation because of her extraordinary care, compassion, and kindness toward others. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her husband; three brothers; four sisters; two son-in-laws; one grandson and one great-granddaughter.
Nelba is survived by son Daniel and wife, Sandra Yaden of London, KY; daughters Sharon Yaden and Tamara Lusardi of Gurley, AL; Stephanie (Frans) Voorstad of Las Cruces, NM; Terri (Derek) Phelps of Lexington, KY; Edwana Overman of New Home, TX; Norma Yaden of Albuquerque, NM; and Elaine Blunt of Nashville, TN; and brother, Henry Jennings of Bel Air, MD; twelve grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Published in Carlsbad Current-Argus from Feb. 18 to Feb. 21, 2021.
