Harry Lawrence Nelson, Jr. was born in Houston, Texas on Tuesday, December 18, 1951, to Harry L. Nelson, Sr. and Esther F. Nelson. Harry was the third of five children.

Harry, affectionately nicknamed "Doy" and "Junior" by his family, was a bright child who enjoyed math and science. At home, he was known for "demonstrating leadership",  often bossing around both his older and younger siblings. He was a dedicated son, supporting his mother's music studio by tutoring piano and organ students. Growing up, Harry was a member of St. John's Baptist Church on Dowling and later a member of South Union Missionary Baptist Church. At South Union, he was involved in the choir, the Baptist Training Union (BTU), and the softball team. He sang with the City Wide Youth Chorus throughout his teen years.

Harry attended B.H. Grimes Elementary School, Crispus Attucks Junior High School, and Evan E. Worthing  High School (Class of 1969).  In the Fall of 1969, he enrolled at Texas Southern University (TSU)  to study Pharmacy. He was a member of the Ocean of Soul Marching Band and was a charter member of the Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity. While a student at TSU, he began working at Jack's Apothecary, where he remained employed for nearly 30 years.

In March  1977, he married Pameolin King, and to this union, two children were born: Eleisha and Harry III. Though he worked long hours at Jack's Apothecary, in his spare time Harry enjoyed taking trips with his family, bowling, and having family and friends over for a good house party, where there was bound to be a game of dominoes, spades, or Spoons and a big pan of homemade lasagna. He was an avid fan of Houston professional sports (though in particularly bad seasons you'd hear him refer to his beloved teams as  "Those sorry Rockets/Astros/Oilers/Texans.")

As a family, Harry and Pam joined South Park Baptist Church(SPBC)  in 1983. He was ordained as a deacon in 1987 under the leadership of Reverend George May. He was active in a wide range of ministries including the Men's Choir, Adult Choir, Missions, and Marriage Ministry, and was the 11th/12th Grade Sunday School teacher for many years. Beginning in the early 2000s, he served in the SPBC  Transportation Ministry and had a reputation for expanding the church's footprint beyond the 77033 zip code, often bringing youth from the outskirts of the city and holding Sunday School classes on the church bus. Later, he assumed leadership of the SPBC Youth Ministry, shaping programming, guiding youth-initiated service projects, and chaperoning youth summer camp trips, until a series of strokes (2014-2017) limited his cognition and mobility.

Harry left this earth on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, to unite with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was preceded in death by his father, Harry L. Nelson, Sr., and his granddaughter, Corinne Victoria Nelson.

He will be loved, missed, and remembered by his family: mother Esther F. Nelson; children Eleisha Nelson-Reed (Rickey) and Harry L. Nelson, III (Abigail); and grandchildren, Carter Stokely Reed and Norah Lynn Keys Nelson. Additionally, he will be remembered by his siblings Enetta Rose, Vinola Nelson, Franklin Nelson (Jean), Sylvia Edwards (Glenn), Darrell Nelson; his aunt, Artye Faye Matthews; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and the SPBC family.