Brother Nelson Alexander Petree was born on Saturday, January 14, 1928, to Carl Petree and Kinslow Banner in the Red Bank Community of Forsyth County, North Carolina. The Lord having blessed him to live 94 years, Brother Petree transitioned on Sunday, May 29, 2022, in Ellenwood, Georgia.

While Brother Petree mostly grew up in the Red Bank Community, he eventually moved to Winston-Salem, NC. It was there where he met the love of his life, Ida Mae Fair. They were married for 49 years until her passing on January 25, 1995. This beautiful union traveled with their family to many parts of the United States, and Brother Petree affectionately took on the name "Godfather" during these adventures.

Brother Petree had many hobbies and talents, some of them being checkers, cards, and baseball. In fact, he played baseball for the Winston-Salem Pond Giants, a team he acquired in 1960 and managed for 38 years (until 1998). Under Brother Petree's coaching and knowledge of the game, the team rarely experienced defeat. His leadership was further acknowledged and recognized in 2008 when he was inducted into the Greater Winston-Salem Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. Other highlights from Brother Petree's baseball career include him playing first base in a game against Hank Aaron and the Indianapolis Clowns, played one season in the New York Giants farm system, and receiving recognition from the Triad Cultural Arts for his valuable contributions to Giants and Stars Salute to the Negro Baseball League. His favorite professional baseball team was the New York Yankees.  While he enjoyed baseball, he also embodied the importance of hard work. Brother Petree worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for 38 years, was the first African American to operate the switcher at Whitaker Park, and even drove the activity bus for East Forsyth High School after retirement. He was also regularly active in ministry, exercising his gifts to serve at Macedonia True Vine Pentecostal Holiness Church. On Sunday, July 11, 2010, he was honored for his years of service and was named the Church Patriarch.

Brother Petree was preceded in death by his loving parents; wife, Ida Mae Fair Petree; son, Nelson A. Petree, Jr.; sister, Juanita Petree; brother, Jesse Petree; granddaughter, Katina West; and great-great granddaughter, Cali Smalls. He leaves to cherish his memory and continue his legacy his three daughters, Melinee Lytle of Winston-Salem, NC,  Barbara (William, Sr.) West of Ellenwood, GA, and Ida (Arthur, Sr.) Scott of Decatur, GA;  special daughter, Sadie Brown of Winston-Salem, NC; grandchildren, Nelneeta (Sterling) Quash of Raleigh, NC, Rhonda Wright of Winston-Salem, NC, Tammy (Kevin) Adams of Charlotte, NC, William (Nicole) West, Jr. of Arlington, TN, Arthur (Tori) Scott, Jr. of Decatur, GA, Natasha (Khari) Thompson of Winston-Salem, NC,  Anthony (Melanie) Scott of Acworth, GA;  special grandchildren, Tracey Brown, Karen James, and Trent Gibson; great-grandchildren, Curtis (Miracle) Smalls Jr., Kabrina (fiance Josh Byron) Lytle, Samuel Wilson, IV, TeQuan (Mikayla) Taylor, Chaise Scott, Alex West, Hailey West, Kendall West, Anthony J. Scott "AJ", Christian Scott, Jason Scott, Justin Scott, Sgt. Khari (Davina) Thompson, Jr. USMC, Aaron Thompson, Marya Thompson, and Taylor Quash; special great granddaughter, Briana Kight;  great-great grandchildren, Tiana Byron, Jalen Smalls, August Taylor, and Dream Hunt; special niece, Dicie Petree; sister-in-law, Helen (Archie) Covington; brother-in-law, William Fair, Sr.; devoted friends, Frank McClure and Ron Jessup; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 6:00pm Friday, June 10, 2022 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00noon Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Macedonia Worship Center with Apostle Sylvester Davis Johnson officiating and Rev. Anthony Scott eulogist. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 12:00noon on Saturday at the Church.