State Flags To Be Lowered For Westfield Principal Derrick Nelson

WESTFIELD, NJ - Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 64, ordering U.S. and New Jersey

flags to fly at half-staff to honor the life of Dr. Derrick Nelson, principal of Westfield High School, on Monday.

Nelson died this week after donating bone marrow to help an ill child overseas.

"Dr. Derrick Nelson represented the best of our state and our country," said Murphy. "He
spent over 20 years in the United States Army, including time in the Middle East. He did all of this while serving the children of Plainfield, Orange, and Westfield, as a teacher, an assistant principal, and eventually as a principal. Tragically, Dr. Nelson died donating bone marrow to someone in need. We are better for having known him, even for the short amount of time he was with us. Tammy and I send our condolences to the Nelson family and his loved ones during this difficult time."

The services for Nelson begin with a viewing Monday and funeral Tuesday.

According to school officials the service schedule is as follows:

Viewing - Monday, April 15
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Viewing - Tuesday, April 16
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Funeral Service - Tuesday, April 16
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All services will be held at St. John’s Baptist Church located at 2387 Morse Avenue, Scotch Plains.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your
local Patch site here. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter by clicking here. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading our Apple iOS app here, or by visiting the Google Play store for the Android app here.