The music world is in mourning after a plane crash killed three members of one of America’s most beloved gospel music families. Jason Clark, Kelly Nelon Clark and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler of The Nelons were headed to perform on the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska Friday (July 26) when their plane crashed in Wyoming. Now, fans are haunted by one group member’s chilling social media posts just hours before their deaths.
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The Nelons Were Headed to Seattle
The Nelons are a GRAMMY-nominated gospel quartet consisting of Jason Clark, Kelly Nelon Clark, and their daughters, Amber Nelon Kistler and Autumn Nelon Streeman. Streetman, who was not aboard the private plane, is the group’s lone surviving member.
[RELATED: Gospel Group The Nelons Paves New Musical Path While Reflecting on Roots]
The crash claimed the lives of all seven passengers, including Amber’s husband Nathan Kistler and their assistant Melodi Hodges. Pilot Larry Haynie also died, along with his wife, Melissa. The plane was bound for Seattle, from where the Gaither Homecoming Cruise was set to depart.
Hours before the fateful crash, Kelly Nelon Clark posted to Facebook: “Up for an early flight to Seattle. Pray for a good smooth flight and no storms. Then pray a great Gaither Alaskan Cruise. Will we see you?”
Fans Grieve Tragic Deaths of Gospel Singers
To those closest to The Nelons, the post felt eerily prescient once news of the crash broke. “Absolutely heart breaking to read this,” one Facebook user commented. “She never made it to Seattle but boy look where she did end up! Ain’t no cruise anywhere that can match heaven. Will miss them all. God heal all our hurting hearts.”
The group also posted to social media during a pit stop in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Jason Clark updated followers on their journey in a July 26 Instagram video captioned, “Gaither Alaskan Cruise Travel Vlog.” The camera panned to show the plane’s other passengers, including pilot Larry Haynie.
“Next stop was Heaven. I’m so sad,” wrote one fan in the Instagram comments. “They blessed so many people for so many years!!!”
Featured image by AFF-USA/Shutterstock
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