With Townsend’s wife and daughter present, FAMU President
Elmira Mangum described the former athletic director’s dedication to the
university.
“Nelson made an indelible mark and impact on the lives of
student athletes, coaches and others who now serve in leadership positions
throughout the world of sports,” she said. “As I think about the impact Nelson
had on my life, I will always remember his smile, his kind heartedness and how
he carried himself with such humility.”
The attendees at the service included: former state. Sen. Alfred “Al” Lawson, former FAMU Athletic Director Roosevelt Wilson, former FAMU Athletic Director Ken Riley, Bethune-Cookman University Athletic Director Lynn Thompson, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Commissioner Dennis Thomas, and FAMU Trustee Surgeon McWilliams.
Coaches and student-athletes representing FAMU’s sports
programs also came out in large numbers to support the Townsend family.