Keith Carter Nichols

Keith was born in Gadsden, Alabama, on June 6, 1957, to Tom and Jane Nichols. Born six minutes after his twin sister, Keith was affectionately known as “the bonus.” His childhood was marked by outdoor adventures with his siblings and their neighborhood friends, who still treasure these special memories and keep in touch to this day.

Keith was a 1975 graduate of Emma Sansom High School. At the age of sixteen, he rode his bicycle five miles from his house to the home of Jan Hayes to meet her and ask for a date. It wasn’t long before the high school sweethearts followed each other to Jacksonville State University, where Keith played the trumpet with the Marching Southerners. He graduated in 1979 with a degree in secondary education with a major in mathematics and a minor in physics.

Keith and Jan were married shortly after graduation, and he became a math teacher at a local high school. In 1984 they moved to Birmingham where Keith attended UAB to earn a B.S. in computer science. He worked as a software developer until his retirement in 2016.

To know Keith was to love him. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a doting Pop. He handled a devastating diagnosis with dignity and grace. He never lost his sense of humor or wavered in his affection for coffee, Chick-Fil-A, and good music. While he will be deeply missed, we do not grieve without hope because we know that Keith had trusted in Jesus for his salvation.

Keith is survived by his wife, Jan; his children, Haley (Stuart) Williams, Ryan Nichols, and Josh Nichols; his precious grandchildren, Katherine Williams, Emily Williams, and Hampton Nichols; his mother, Jane Nichols; his brothers, David (Sharon) Nichols, Tony (Laura) Nichols; and his sister, Karen (Keith) Bush. He was preceded in death by his father, Tom Nichols.

A private graveside service will be held in Attalla, Alabama, at Red Hill Christian Fellowship, where Keith married his beloved bride. A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, February 10, at 2:00 pm at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Keith’s family requests that any memorial contributions be made in the form of charitable donations to Anchor Community Respite Ministry or Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama.