Voyed Milton Nichols Jr.

Voyed Milton “Milt” Nichols Jr. passed away unexpectedly at his home in LaGrange, GA on Sept 3, at the age of 52. Milt was born in LaGrange, GA, and moved to DeKalb County, GA at a young age but often visiting his grandparents in Roanoke. He graduated Tucker High School in 1987 and Georgia State University in 1992 with a history major and a minor in philosophy. Milt loved his job as a one-man crew supervisor at DeKalb County Watershed for 14 years before he and his family moved to Roanoke, AL in 2010, where his wife Joy works as a Nurse Practitioner.

As a young child, Milt already knew exactly who he was. When asked his name, he would reply, “Milt, my son”. To many, he was fondly known as Tater. Milt spent his childhood days playing, protecting, and aggravating his younger sister Jody, and his youngest cousin Julie. Following Milt’s direction, the mischievous threesome had their first car accident before even hitting preschool when they drove Milt’s mother’s VW Bug into another car in a parking lot.

Mr. Nichols loved to play tennis , croquet, basketball, chess - (Ella never was able to beat him) volleyball, fishing. Milt was a member of Hoochee Poosa Locavores foodie group, Lagrange Tennis center, member of New Hope Church in Clacksville AL, former volunteer firefighter at Mt Olive, premier member of one of Atlanta’s longest running book clubs back then. Milt was a life-long learner and after leaving the Water Department, he spent his time gardening and homesteading. He enjoyed gatherings of any kind, especially with family and during holidays.

The thing we love most about Milt is his story-telling ability and gift of gab. He was Joy’s connection to the world, his children and extended family and friends relationships were most important to him. He made sure his family ate overly healthy family “suppers” ( not “dinner” as Joy might correct him.) He has a beautiful mind and was a free thinker , everyone would come to him for advice — Milt gave Joy great work advice even though he didn’t work . And the kids would come to him for anything and everything such as advice, life questions, contests to see who could solve school math problems fastest. He was a big kid at heart , coached many a soccer games and actually won a couple championships by being the most hands off coach ever -Milt always said “just let the kids play.” Joy prides Milt in raising their kids — our opinionated rebel Ella, our smart and funny Liam, and our artistic Finn. When their Caboose Finn came along, Milt quit his job at Dekalb County Georgia to raise his kids full time in Roanoke and to be a trophy husband and day-napper. He embraced his new job and loved connecting with other stay -at - home dads. Their farmstead started out as an overgrown patch that he transformed into a homestead , he built their small farmhouse by hand with a hammer and nails and a gas generator on weekends and turned the land into pasture and learned to fence and crossfence many acres with help of friends. It only took him about 6 years of studying, reading , and experimenting with soil and $$$$ to finally learn how to grow a thriving garden and planted about 70 fruit trees, with many failures of course , he had no use for ornamentals. His garden was his sanctuary. He lived life by a few philosophies from his elders like his pawpaw - the best work is done the hour before sun rise and best sleep is the hour after sunset. Or his granny's advice “ is if it feels wrong Milt, just don’t do it.” Not that he listenened. Milt always left people with a good feeling after leaving and expected the same from others. He was both intuitive and logical and had a gift for recognizing faces that he only met briefly. He loved listening to or watching the Braves just like his dad and grandad. He always told Joy that she was lucky he didn’t watch college football. He had deep faith in the Lord and Christ and Milt will forever be in many hearts as he was taken way too young.

He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Joy Wang Nichols, daughter Ella Nichols, 17, sons Liam Nichols, 16, and Finn Nichols, 9. He is also survived by his sister Jody Nichols Reid (Rob) of Dacula, GA, stepmother Scarlett Nichols of Roanoke, AL, uncle Curtis Stone (Linda) of Canon City, CO and aunt Nell Wright of Oklahoma City, OK. He leaves behind his cousins Julie Wylie (Doug), Jody Spradlin (Chris), Ricky Willis (Leann), Laurie Long (Pat), Greg Stone (Shannon), and David Edwards, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Voyed Milton Nichols and Norma Jean Stone Nichols, uncle Corbin Stone and aunt Judy Harmon, grandparents Sappy and Lucile Nichols and Norman and Neda Stone.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary in LaGrange, GA. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/lagrange-ga/striffler-hamby-mortuary/4589

A graveside service for Milt will be held at 1 pm CST (2 pm EST) Friday, September 10, 2021 at New Hope Christian Church, Roanoke. A graveside service for Milt will be held at 1 pm CST. Chambers County Road 237 , Wadley AL 36276). Google Maps: 3GP6+R4 Wadley, Alabama

Flowers or plants are welcome. Or in lieu contributions to Trees Atlanta, The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, or The Rose Center (Mobile, AL) are welcome.