Nell Hix Nichols

Nell “Nellie” Nichols passed away on Sunday, November 27th, 2022 in Houston, Texas. She was 96 years old. She will be sorely missed by her family, friends and caregivers who will never forget her kind, gentle ways, and her loving way of greeting everyone with “Hello Darlin or Shuga.” She never met a stranger and people were just naturally drawn to her.

Nell’s family and friends will gather for A Service of Remembrance and Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2023 at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, AL 35124. Please join the family for a reception immediately following the service to honor Nell.

Nell was born in Cookeville, Tennessee on May 21, 1926. She made the most of life no matter what the circumstances. She achieved “Life Master” status as a Bridge Player, she had very pretty small feet and was a Shoe Model, an amazing Mother, a Grandmother, a Wife and a Dear Friend to all who knew her. Everyone just wanted to be around her. She had a unique way of cheering you up and making you feel that “All is Well” no matter what your circumstances were.

Nell lost her mother when she was just 10 years old, and this helped to form her strong will to not let things get her down and to be grateful for each and every day. She was one of those rare people who never complained about anything other than an occasional “I’m cold,” and always saw the positive side to everything, unless she was losing money at cards or dominos then it was merely “Oh Boy!”

After Nell and her husband Jack raised their four children in St. Louis Missouri, Jack’s career took them to Boston, Houston, and finally their favorite, Birmingham, Alabama, where they eventually retired. They began traveling extensively around the country in their Air Stream Trailer visiting beautiful places in the United States as well as family in Tennessee, Texas, and Florida. Nell moved back to Houston when she turned 90 so that she could be closer to her four children who all live in Houston so they could be with her in the autumn of her life.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Jack Nichols, and her two sisters, Bonnie Hunt and Mabel Bohannon. She is survived by her devoted children, Cheri Kline (Phil), Jackie Wilcox (Tom), Janet Nichols–DeNeui (Darius), and Keith Nichols (Deborah); 12 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club, 144 Business Center Dr., Birmingham, AL 35244.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at Nell Hix Nichols' special memorial page at www.SouthernHeritageFunerals.com for her family.