Rebecca Lanier Nichols

Mrs. Rebecca Lanier Nichols, 87, of LaGrange, died Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at LaGrange Health and Rehab. She was born in Shawmut, Alabama, on June 22, 1928, the daughter of Osmos and Jewel Causey Lanier.

She graduated from Valley High School in Valley, Alabama, Blue Mountain College in Mississippi, and completed post-graduate studies at LaGrange College. An accomplished pianist, she began serving as church pianist at First Baptist Church of Shawmut as a young teenager. Following her college graduation, she moved to Troy, Alabama, where she was Education Director at First Baptist Church, and where she met her future husband, Daves Nichols. They married in 1953 and moved to LaGrange in 1955. Mrs. Nichols was a homemaker and later an elementary teacher in the LaGrange City School System. As a member of First Baptist Church on the Square, she served in many capacities, including nursery worker, youth Sunday School teacher, Meals on Wheels deliverer, and church greeter. In addition, she worked with children’s choirs for over 30 years as an accompanist. While she enjoyed her teaching career and her numerous volunteer activities, her main focus was always on her role as a wife, mother, and grandmother.

Mrs. Nichols is survived by her husband of 62 years, Daves Rhudolph Nichols; her brother Dr. Osmos Lanier, Jr. (Fran) of Savannah, Georgia; three children, Timothy Lanier Nichols (Karen) of Rome, Georgia, Sally Nichols Traylor (David) of LaGrange, and Christopher David Nichols (Vickie) of Quito, Ecuador; thirteen grandchildren, Matt Nichols (Beka), Alison Nichols, Tommy Traylor (Emily), Angelyn Traylor, Kelsey Nichols, Kirby Nichols, Kyndal Cheng (Yu-Tang), Kole Nichols, Kyle Nichols (Alyssa), Karson Nichols (Emily), Kollin Nichols, Kayla Nichols, Kory Nichols; great-granddaughters Micah and Lydia Nichols; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 27, at 3 PM at First Baptist Church on the Square. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:30 in the church Sanctuary. Flowers will be accepted or contributions may be made to First Baptist Church on the Square in memory of Mrs. Nichols.

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA 30240 (706) 884-8636