Nelda Tindel was a woman of strength, love, humor, and an enormous heart. Born on February 19, 1945, in Liberty, Texas to J.C. and Thelma Burrell, she carried with her the warmth and spirit of Texas, the place where she was born and raised and where family would always remain a part of her heart.

For 63 years, Nelda shared life with her beloved husband, Buster Tindel. Their marriage was built through seasons of adventure, sacrifice, laughter, and an unwavering love for one another. As a military wife, Nelda knew what it meant to be strong. During Buster’s deployments, she carried the responsibility of home and family, often filling the role of both parents while he served. She did it with the kind of strength that may not always have been spoken about, but was felt deeply by the family she cared for.

After Buster retired from the military, they made their home in Biloxi/Gulfport, Mississippi, which became their home away from home, while Texas remained a special piece of Nelda’s heart. She loved returning to Texas to visit family and cherished the connections that remained there.

Nelda was a devoted mother to her two sons, Scott and Cameron, and nothing was more important to her than her family. Scott and his wife, Erika, blessed her with two grandchildren, Ezequiel and Dylan, and Cameron and his wife, Jamie, completed the family she loved so dearly. Being a wife, Mom, and MawMaw were among the greatest joys of Nelda’s life, and her love for her family was evident in the countless ways she gave of herself to them.

Those who knew Nelda knew she had a wonderful sense of humor and a personality all her own. She was funny and quick-witted and never afraid to say exactly what was on her mind. Her family will remember not only the things she said, but the laughter that surrounded her and the unmistakable personality that made her uniquely Nelda.

She found happiness in the simple things, too. Jigsaw puzzles could keep her happily occupied, and reading was a part of her everyday life. Whether it was a book in her hands or her Kindle nearby, Nelda always seemed to have a story she was reading.

She also had a heart for those who needed a little extra help. Together, Nelda and Buster quietly gave back to their community, donating money to local schools to help provide lunches for children who could not afford them. Her compassion extended to animals as well, especially dogs. Her love for Buddy, Sissy, and Bandit was a reflection of the tenderness she had for all of God’s creatures, and she and Buster supported the Humane Society because they believed in caring for animals who needed a loving hand.

Nelda was preceded in death by her parents, J.C. and Thelma Burrell, and by her siblings Chris, Bill, John Obe, and Melba. She is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Buster; her sons, Scott and his wife, Erika, and Cameron and his wife, Jamie; her grandchildren, Ezequiel and Dylan; her siblings Carl Burrell and his wife, Mary, and Juanita Vislocky and her husband, Bill and Otis Burrell and his wife Maxine and many nieces and nephews who were also blessed to call her family.

She was a wife. A mother. A MawMaw. A daughter. A sister. A friend. A woman who loved deeply, laughed often, and left an imprint on the hearts of the people who knew her. And while her family will miss her more than words can express, they will carry Nelda with them in their stories, their laughter, their traditions, and in the love she spent a lifetime giving them.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 18, 2026, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 13872 Lemoyne Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39532. The funeral service will begin at 12:00 p.m. A graveside service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Biloxi National Cemetery.

Nelda loved to read, and in her honor, the family invites attendees to bring a favorite book to donate to the Harrison County Library System in her memory.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, is honored to serve the family.