James Kenneth Nichols

James Kenneth “Jim” Nichols, died on June 1, 2021, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 74. He was born on January 10, 1947, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and grew up in DeRidder, graduating from DeRidder High School in 1965. He attended college at Louisiana Tech University and graduated from LSU Law School in 1972. Jim practiced law in DeRidder for over twenty years, and served the public in many roles during that time, including DeRidder City Prosecutor, DeRidder City Attorney, Member of the Beauregard Parish School Board, and City Judge of DeRidder. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, the DeRidder Rotary Club, and Beauregard Country Club. In his later years, he enjoyed membership in The Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge. Survivors include his two children, James Carter Nichols of New Orleans and Sarah Nichols Cooley and her husband JJ Cooley of Rosepine; two grandchildren, Carson Cooley and Hudson Cooley of Rosepine; the mother of his children, Dr. Candis Carr residing in Lake Charles; one brother, C. Joseph Nichols of Little Rock, Arkansas; and a host of first cousins and relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents James Wallace Nichols and Emma Lee Nichols. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. with memorial funeral service beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 10, at the First United Methodist Church in DeRidder, Louisiana, officiated by George Lee Glass. A second service is to be scheduled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at The Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge.