December 6, 1936 – June 29, 2026
Dr. Danielette Adelaide Nelson, a pioneering Liberian surgeon who practiced medicine in London for more than 50 years, passed away on June 29, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Westminster, London, England. She was 89 years old.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at Cricklewood Baptist Church, 2 Sneyd Road, London NW2 (off Anson Road), London, England. The community is welcome to attend, pay their respects, and participate in a memorial event to honor her legacy. Interment will follow at Paddington Cemetery, Willesden Lane, Kilburn.
Born on December 6, 1936, in Monrovia, Liberia, Dr. Nelson graduated from the College of West Africa in 1951 before matriculating at the University of Liberia, graduating in 1955 with a BSc in science.
Dr. Nelson earned her Doctor of Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Free University of Brussels) in October 1969. Prior to her medical studies in Belgium, she earned a Master of Arts degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. She also pursued advanced studies in pathology and special therapeutic subjects at the University of Maryland.
Dr. Kate Bryant, a contemporary in the medical profession, recalled that Dr. Nelson was a trailblazer for women in medicine, inspiring pride and respect in the community.
Following her medical training, Dr. Nelson returned to Liberia, where she served in the surgical department at John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital alongside the late Dr. Walter Brumskine, Liberia’s first urologist. Before relocating permanently to the United Kingdom in 1975, she established herself as one of the country’s pioneering surgeons.
“Danielette was unassuming and very diligent and exceptionally professional,’ said Dr. Bryant, a pediatrician. “Danielette felt that this is something that I want to do and I am going to do it right.’’
Dr. Nelson’s dedication to compassionate care, her pioneering work as the only female surgeon in Liberia during the 1960s and 1970s, and her impactful work at St. Mary’s Hospital exemplify her legacy in medicine. In addition, she worked at the National Health Service as a general surgeon.
Dr. Nelson practiced medicine for more than five decades. In 2002, she founded the Afro Health Institute in London, through which she helped provide medical supplies and equipment to hospitals in Liberia.
Dr. Nelson’s son, McDonald Johnson, said his mother was his greatest supporter, source of comfort, and inspiration.
“She taught me the importance of faith and hard work,’’ he said. “Through her words and actions, she showed me the true meaning of love, kindness, and compassion. Her example continues to guide me every day.’
Dr. Nelson is survived by her son, McDonald Johnson of Maine, United States, and her brother, Dougba Caranda, of Georgia, USA. Her sisters, Paulita M. Toby, Mary Tucker, and Thelma Nelson; and her brothers, David Nelson and John Caranda, predeceased her.
For those wishing to express condolences or support her family, please contact her son, McDonald Johnson, via WhatsApp at +1 (207) 408-8676 or in the United Kingdom at +44 7405 121 723, or her brother, Dougba Caranda, at +1 (678) 542-0056.
