Ms. Mary Pat Nicholson was born December 15, 1924 in Eden, AL, passed away February 12, 2024 at the age of 99, in Pell City, AL.
Mary Pat was a simple, yet amazing women. She lived a life most of us could only attempt to replicate. A missionary, an amazing teacher, a world traveler, and a lifelong learner.
Mary Pat valued education, graduating high school from Wesleyan Methodist Academy in South Carolina, she continued her education at Marion College in Marion, Indiana with degrees in English and History, with a minor in Bible Studies. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Master of Arts in Education.
Mary Pat taught for Charlotte Public Schools in 1966, then moved to the Waverly School District in 1967 where she taught at Elmwood Elementary School until she retired in 1988. She was involved in the Gifted and Talented Program. She was also part of a teaching sabbatical program through MSU that allowed her to go to Tokyo, Japan for a year during the 1982-83 school year.
A devoted Christian, Mary Pat valued her relationship with the Lord. With her Bible in-tow, she entered the missionary field in 1950 to Japan with Dr. Stephen Nicholson. Midway through the mission trip, they took sabbatical and came back to the US to recharge their batteries. During this time, they adopted their daughter, Suzanne. In 1956, they returned to Japan to finish their mission trip and missionary work. Mary Pat led many Bible Study sessions at Faith Wesleyan Church upon her return to Lansing. She valued her many relationships there.
Upon retirement, Mary Pat moved back home to Pell City, AL. The thing she valued more than anything was her family. Time spent with her family was her most prized relationship, along with that of her lifelong and dearest friend Billie Faye Harvey.
Mary Pat was preceded in death by her parents Alberta and Charles "Bo" Robertson, sisters Evelyn Ingram and Bobbye Moman, and brother Charles "Ted" Robertson.
We want to thank the staff at Meadowview Nursing Center, as well as Lakeside Hospice, for their care for Mary Pat on her final journey home.
Mary Pat is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Carpenter; grandchildren, Dax Carpenter and Allyson McCann; great grandchildren, Christopher Carpenter, Sean McCann, and Nicholas Carpenter.
Mary Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Bo and Alberta Robertson; sisters, Evelyn Ingram and Bobbye Moman; brother, Ted Robertson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Faith Church in Lansing, Michigan.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kilgroefh.com for the Nicholson family.
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