By Kaitlin Hoskins, News Editor
After more than four decades at Gadsden City Hall, longtime City Clerk Iva Nelson has officially retired from the position she held for nearly 23 years. Even so, retirement hasn’t quite felt like retirement.
“I haven’t had time to enjoy my retirement yet,” Nelson said with a laugh.
Although she officially stepped down as city clerk, Nelson has remained at City Hall on a part-time basis to assist with preparations for the upcoming municipal election in August. She will stay on through the end of September, in case of a run-off election.
“At some point I will feel retired, but that time hasn’t come yet,” she said.
Nelson’s career with the City of Gadsden began in March 1984 when she was hired as a typist in the city clerk’s office. She worked in a variety of positions before being appointed city clerk on Oct. 8, 2002, succeeding her mentor, Martha Elrod, upon Elrod’s retirement.
Looking back over 42 years with the city, Nelson said she feels grateful above all else.
“I’ve been blessed to have the privilege of working for the city for so many years,” she said. “Each council that appointed me as city clerk since 2002, having their confidence meant a lot to me. Having the health and ability to work the last 42 years for the City of Gadsden is a blessing.”
As she prepares to fully step away from City Hall, Nelson has found herself thinking often about Elrod, whom she still credits for much of her success.
“I’ve been thinking about Martha a lot these days,” Nelson said. “I’m sharing that Martha mindset of paying it forward, like Martha did. She was an amazing woman, like a second mother to me. She taught me how to mentor, and her legacy continues.”
Nelson said one of the biggest adjustments has been no longer seeing the people who became part of her daily life over the years.
“It is strange not being at City Hall every day, seeing all the people you’re used to seeing,” she said. “I miss working with everyone, the council, different staff members from various departments, the public, the mayor.”
Despite missing her coworkers, Nelson is beginning to enjoy one of retirement’s greatest perks: flexibility.
“My favorite part is having a flexible schedule,” she said. “I can get up and decide what time I want to go to City Hall instead of being tied to the clock.”
Once her work assisting with the election concludes, Nelson plans to spend more time with her family. She looks forward to helping her mother care for her older brother, who has an intellectual disability, and spending more time with her 14-year-old granddaughter, including hosting sleepovers with the teenager.
She’s also eager to spend more time on the golf course.
“My friends say now I have time for day golfing,” Nelson said. “I’m excited to try it when summer is over and the temperature is cooler and more pleasant.”
Retirement will also provide her more time for music. Nelson plans to continue playing piano and singing at her church, something that has long been an important part of her life.
Mayor Craig Ford said Nelson’s impact on City Hall and the community will be felt for years to come.
“We will miss having Iva at City Hall every day,” Ford said. “But we will stay in touch. She is a treasure to the city, not just City Hall, but the whole city. We are blessed to have had her for so many years. She put up with all of us for so long, and she always did it with a smile.”
Ford also expressed appreciation that Nelson has remained to help with this year’s municipal election.
“She’s even helping us through this next election, which is a difficult job to ask anyone to do,” he said. “We’re so thankful for the time and heart she’s poured into her role as City Clerk over the years. Iva has always shown up with a commitment to serving both the city and its people, and that kind of dedication doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Ford said he is confident the city is in good hands under Nelson’s successor, Jennifer Smith.
“While Iva is enjoying her golfing, Jennifer will be running the machine of city government,” Ford said. “We are confident that Jennifer will continue to be an excellent replacement. She has big shoes to fill, but she’s done an amazing job so far. There was no doubt when Iva retired that Jennifer would be the right person to pick up the torch. We are glad she agreed to step in.”
Smith said Nelson’s preparation and mentorship made the transition far easier than it otherwise could have been.
“Iva taught me well,” Smith said. “She left everything in a great place, so stepping into this role was not as difficult as it could have been. Everyone has told me that I have big shoes to fill, and they are right. But I know that Iva has prepared us well and that she is just a phone call away if we need her.”
Nelson was named Alabama Municipal Clerk of the Year by the Alabama Association of Municipal Clerks and Administrators in 2019. In 2024, the City of Gadsden proclaimed March 23 as “Iva Nelson Day” in recognition of her 40 years of service to the city.
