Nelson Glanville MacFarlane Major is remembered and respected as one of that breed of educators who made it their life's work to stimulate, encourage and prepare a new generation of Bahamians for the job world. He was born at Burrow's Harbour, Long Island in the early 1900s. His early education was at the Buckley's Public School, under such able teachers as Garnet Gibson, J. L. Thompson, C. I. Gibson, and Anthony Smith. Nelson was a good student, and so was made a monitor at age 11. At 16 he passed the Pupil Teacher's Exam, and entered the Teachers Training School at 18. In the same year he was also appointed Head Teacher of the school in Rum Cay.

Mr. Major remained there for a year, before being transferred to Inagua in 1923, where he replaced his former teacher, C. I. Gibson. As principal there he appointed T. G. Glover as a monitor. Mr. Glover himself went on to be one of The Bahamas' most noted teachers. In 1925, Mr. Major resigned from teaching and went into business for five years in Nassau, and 11 years in Long Island.

Apparently he was not comfortable outside the classroom, and returned to teaching in 1941. C. I. Gibson had recently died, and Mr. Major again replaced him as headteacher, this time at the school in Deadman's Cay. N. G. M. Major's tenure at Deadman's Cay was the high point of his career. He set out to make that school not only the best in Long Island, but in the country as well.

The School consistently got top honours in the Agricultural and General Fairs for their farming efforts. They were also very successful in the Bahamas Junior Certificate (B. J. C.) Exams, and the Bahamas Music Festivals. Moreover, the school, under Mr. Major's leadership, captured about 40% of all the scholarships to the Government High School. In 1946, T. A. Thompson, the school inspector, reported, "The school at Deadman's Cay is the leading school in the Out Islands, and is equal to any of the Senior Schools in New Providence."
 
 
   
       
   
 

In 1952, N. G. M. Major became Supervisory Head Teacher of the Long Island Schools. Then in 1960, was appointed District Inspector of schools in the south-eastern islands - namely Long Island, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, Acklins, Crooked Island, Mayaguana and Inagua. The job entailed much travel by foot, boat, car or animal, but N. G. M. Major took his job seriously. He initiated periodical teachers' conferences to facilitate training, and to obtain practical help. His work was very much appreciated by teachers in the area.

Outside school, Mr. Major was a community man who loved his island home, and who devoted his entire life to its betterment. He served on the Boards of Works and Health continuously from 1931 to 1968. He also served as a Justice of the Peace for many years, and was often called upon to be Acting Commissioner.

In recognition of his outstanding work, Mr. Major was awarded the British Empire Medal (B. E. M.) in the 1952 Queen's Honours. When the Deadman's Cay school became a senior school in the 1970s, it was named the N. G. M. Major High School in his honour.