Jahmal N. Nelson, 41, of Pelham Hill Road, passed away Dec. 26, 2012, of complications due to a long term illness.

Born Oct. 10, 1971, in Garberville, Calif., Jahmal was the son of Donald and Suzanne (Breen) Nelson. He was educated in local schools and lived most of his life in the Amherst area.

Jahmal worked in the maintenance department at the University of Massachusetts for many years. He was also a house painter in the Amherst area. Jahmal enjoyed cooking and the arts.

He will be remembered by many for his smile and hugs.

Besides his parents, Donald and Suzanne of Cambria, Calif., Jahmal is survived by his brothers, Paul Nelson and T.J. Nelson of Cambria, Calif.; his sister, Alanna Nelson of Baltimore, Md. and several cousins.

The family requests that donations in Jahmal’s memory be in the form of any act of kindness to others.