Reverend Samuel Welding Nero

Obituary Pastor Samuel Welding Nero was born on January 15, 1941 in Bristow, Oklahoma to Henry R. Nero and Daisy D. (Fortson) Nero. He was the fourth of six children born to the union. Pastor Nero moved to Kansas City, Kansas with his family at the age of 5. Pastor Nero accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Greater Jerusalem Baptist Church where his father was the Pastor. He received his education in the Kansas City, Kansas public schools and graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1959. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS TULARE AKA-112. Pastor Nero met Edna Louise Boswell right before leaving for the Navy in May 1961, and he married her 2 years later June 30, 1963 in Kansas City, KS. Together they had two children. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather – commonly referred to as “Poppy”. His favorite pastime was spending time with his family. Pastor Nero continued his education, after serving two years in the U.S. Navy, at Park College and Western Baptist Bible College. He attended Management schools with the United States Postal Service - retiring after 30 years to become a full-time Pastor of Second Baptist Church in Independence, Missouri. He was called to pastor there in April 1987. Before coming to Second Baptist, he served as the Pastor of First Baptist Mt. Union Church in St. Joseph, MO. Pastor Nero was an Under Shepherd for the Lord for a total of 50 years - 19 years at First Baptist Mt. Union Church and 31 years at Second Baptist Church. Pastor Nero served in many capacities in both the church and the community. He was the National Advisor and Instructor for the National Baptist Laymen, Member of the National Baptist Laymen Evangelism Team, Immediate Past Recording Secretary of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri, Current Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Western Baptist Bible College, former Moderator of the New Era Missionary Baptist District Association, Current President of the New Era District Congress of Christian Education, and Chairman of the Historical Black Colleges & Universities Committee for the Baptist Ministers Union of Kansas City, MO. He was awarded Minister of the Year by the Baptist Ministers Union of Kansas City, MO. and vicinity. An Honorary Doctor of Divinity was bestowed upon him by Western Baptist Bible College of Kansas City, MO. He was a Board Member of One Church One Child of Jackson County, Youth Friend for the Kansas City, MO School District, Chairperson of the Eastern Jackson County Family Court Community Accountability Board, and Member of the NAACP. He was a pillar in the Independence community and served as a Chaplin on the Independence Police Department for the past 10 years. Pastor Samuel Welding Nero, 77, passed away on September 6, 2018 at CenterPoint Medical Center in Independence, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry R. and Daisy D. Nero; three brothers: Henry Jr., Joseph, and Joel; and one sister, Valeria. Pastor Nero leaves to cherish his memory: his wife of 55 years, Edna, of Kansas City, MO; one son, Samuel W. (Pamela) Nero, Jr., of Joplin, MO; one daughter, Leonna M. (Craig) Myles, of Kansas City, MO; one sister, Ms. Opzerine Madison, of Kansas City, MO; 9 grandchildren: Samuel W. Nero, III, Ashley (Clevon) Jones, Sia (Charles) Nero, Jordan Bryant, Chantelle Bell, Christian Bell, Kenric (Jasmine) Brown, Mikesia (Richard) Holder, and Marian “Nikki” (Keisha) Jackson; 20 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, spiritual sons and daughters, and friends. Visitation for Reverend Samuel Nero will be held Friday, September 14, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Second Baptist Church of Independence, 116 E. White Oak Street, Independence, Missouri. Visitation will be held Saturday, September 15, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Friendship Baptist Church. Funeral Service for Reverend Sam Nero will be held Saturday, September 15, 11:00 a.m. at Friendship Baptist Church, 3530 Chelsea Drive. Interment, Monday, September 17, Leavenworth National Cemetery. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Reverend Samuel Welding Nero, please visit our floral store. Read More

Reverend Samuel Welding Nero

January 15, 1941 - September 6, 2018