WHEELING – Whether she was helping customers at the Wheeling Water Department, worshiping at church, taking on politics or advocating for social justice, Loma Nevels left a profound mark on the city, according to community members.

Nevels died Monday at the age of 76.

Born Lomadean Brown in Brownsville, Texas, she would relocate and make a life in Wheeling after marrying the Rev. Willie Nevels. She was a member of the Morning Star Baptist Church in Weirton and a current member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Wheeling.

The couple was married 48 years. Rev. Nevels survives her, as do six stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

During her time in the Ohio Valley she went to work for the city of Wheeling, and was a retired assistant supervisor of the Wheeling Water Department. She belonged to various organizations including the NAACP, the Wheeling Human Rights Commission, the Ohio County Democratic Women’s club and Wheeling Housing Authority.

West Virginia NAACP President Owens Brown said Nevels often provided thoughtful advice when it was needed by the organization.

“I just thought she was a very outspoken person, and she spoke truth to justice,” Brown said. “When she said something, she meant it. You can always trust what she said.

“She would also give you the right direction in different situations. The NAACP was dependent on her direction, and that she would clarify and show us the right way. She will be missed by the whole community. It will be hard to replace her as a person in the community. She was so outgoing.”

Nevels was an active member with the Ohio County Democratic Women, and served as its vice president.

“When I think of Loma, I think of someone who was always willing to speak their mind,” said current vice president Marlene Midget. “She was a force to be reckoned with. She was also a woman of God, and a woman who loved her community.”

The Wheeling Island resident ran for Wheeling City Council Ward 2 seat in 2016, and lost by just four votes following a recount. During the campaign, one of her large campaign signs was vandalized with racial epithets.

“I’m very sorry to hear of the passing of Loma Nevels,” said Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio. “She was one of a kind and I always enjoyed speaking with her because you knew you were about to have a drop of wisdom come your way.

“I recall when she was running for office she had a political sign destroyed. When I reached out to her she responded that since the event she was praying for whomever was responsible. In public service you run into many people, but you rarely run into a Loma Nevels. Our community is a better place because of her and it will now have a void which will be impossible to fill.”

While disappointed by her narrow loss, Nevels saw another door open following the election when she was offered an appointment to the Wheeling Rights Human Rights Commission.

Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron noted that when customers have their water service disconnected they often are very angry when they come to the Water Department to have it restored.

“She handled everybody very well,” he said. “I never heard a complaint about customer service skills.

“Loma was a wonderful public employee. Was very professional and steady in dealing with the public and her co-workers. People in the office looked up to her.”

After her retirement, Nevels became even more involved in the community,” Herron continued.

“She was a pro-Wheeling person, and a pleasant person,” he said. “She was not afraid to get her point across, and she did it in an elegant way.”

Magistrate Janine Varner worked alongside Nevels with the city of Wheeling for many years.

“(I was) blessed to have known Loma through our time working at the City/County Building,” she said. “Whether it was a wave down a long hallway or a hug by the elevator … her beautiful smile and snazzy ensembles were a highlight of the day. Lovely gal.

“She loved her Pittsburgh Steelers…. One day Mel Blount came in. I called her extension to let her know. She said, ‘Girl, keep him there. I gotta put my lipstick on, I want a picture!’ She ran down the hall full throttle and we got the shot,” Varner said.