Kelsey Elizabeth Nevils

Kelsey Elizabeth Nevils passed away on Saturday June 28th after a long battle with cancer. She left her Earthly home with her mom and dad holding her hand. Kelsey was very excited to go to heaven and to be with Jesus. She could not wait to walk and run into his arms and have no more pain. Kelsey always put others before herself. She expressed to many she was worried about leaving her mom and dad.

Kelsey was born and raised in Boca Raton, Florida. She loved life to the fullest even as a child. Her teachers, friends, and family would say she brings so much Sunshine to everyone. Her favorite place was the beach. Even at a young age she loved to be in the ocean and find treasures. Kelsey was a gymnast and loved all sports. She was a natural athlete. In middle school she was awarded the Athlete of the Year at Loggers Run as well as receiving other academic and sports awards.

Kelsey graduated from Calvary Christian Academy with many honors. She received the Eagle Award for basketball, The Timothy Award  her Junior year and The Encourager Award her Senior year, National Honor Society, and she was selected as the Beach Bum superlative by her classmates. She enjoyed all sports, excelled in basketball, and loved intramural flag football.

Kelsey graduated from Jacksonville University earning a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with Reading Endorsements. She was awarded the Education award upon graduation. She was hired and started her teaching career in 2020 at Louis Sheffield Elementary School. She taught for four years, and her favorite was teaching 1st grade for 3 of the years and coaching the Running Club.

While attending Jacksonville University she was a cheerleader for 4 years and was the team captain for 2 years. Her favorite memory was cheering for the girls’ basketball team in the ASUN Conference Championship where JU beat Florida Gulf Coast and went to the NCAA basketball tournament in South Carolina. She loved her college years and never wanted them to end. Cheerleading was not all she did at JU. She was a lifeguard at the campus pool, an RA, and worked in the Admission Office where she gave tours to potential students and families. She was very active with Campus Outreach where she spent her summers in Campus Outreach Program in Daytona Beach and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. One of her summer jobs was working as a lifeguard at Daytona Lagoon Water Park and working at Maui Nix in Daytona.

Kelsey loved people and especially children. She had a gift of making learning fun and helping children believe in themselves. She loved God and loved sharing her love of God with others. She lived a life that was filled with love, kindness, and fun. Because of this, people wanted to be around her. She made everyone feel special. The way Kelsey lived her life she was able to share the gospel with many. They wanted the joy and happiness she had. She made a huge impact on so many. She provided positive energy for everyone she met, and many gave her the nickname “Sunshine”. She will live on in everyone’s lives that she touched.

Kelsey attended Town Center Church in Boca Raton Florida and Christ Church East in Jacksonville Florida, where she was active in the Children's Ministry and Women's Bible study. 

Kelsey is survived by her Dad Jeffery J. Nevils, Mom Marsha G. Nevils, brother Cody Nevils, wife Hayley and daughter Madelyn: Grandfather W.H. Gibbs, wife Elenor: Grandmother Betty G. Wickensimer and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, friends that were like family, and dog Rico.

There are not enough words to put in a few paragraphs what Kelsey meant to so many. Those that loved her will feel her in the warm ocean breeze, hear her laughter in the sound of the waves, smile when they feel the sunshine on their face, and see a butterfly flying in the air. Her memory will live on in our hearts until we see her again.

Two Celebrations of her life will be held:

Saturday July 12th at 1:00 PM Town Center Church Presentation Hall @ BRCC

                                                             4950 Communications Ave

                                                              Boca Raton, Florida 33431

The facility is on Yamato Road near I-95    A gathering will follow immediately after.

Saturday July 19th at 11:00    Christ Church East

                                                           12000 Alumni Drive

                                                           Jacksonville, Florida 32224

Kelsey’s one request was to make her Celebration a happy event and ask everyone to wear bright colors. Come as you are.

The family respectfully request that in place of flowers, donations be made to the Kelsey’s Sunshine Foundation, established in the memory of Kelsey Nevils.  To make a donation please click the "Donation" Tab at the top of the page.