Lucille Nichols
On Sunday, August 1, 2021, our Lord welcomed home Lucille Nichols, one of his special angels. Lucille dedicated her life to the Willard F. Bond Home in Madison, and for over fifty years created a place for all to call home. All who knew her had the privilege of knowing unconditional kindness and love. Lucille personally cared for each resident with the love of Jesus, which flowed from her heart. She always had a warm smile and twinkle in her eye and lived a life of grace.
One of her most outstanding accomplishments was to serve on an advisory board for healthcare under President George W. Bush. She was honored by the Mississippi Health Care Association for 30 years of exemplary service and inspiration to the Long Term Care profession. In addition, she was awarded Woman of the Year for Madison County, Businesswoman of the Year by the Business Advisory Council in Washington D.C., and was selected as one of the 10 Most Dynamic Women of the Mississippi Chamber of Commerce. She was a member of the Board of the Madison County Department of Human Services and a member of the 100 Club of Madison County. Lucille was awarded the Peggy Wilkes Award by the City of Madison Chamber of Commerce for her constant work of making positive changes in Madison. The Nichols Center, which is a skilled nursing facility in Madison, was named in her honor.
Lucille was born on December 14, 1924, to Charles and Willehmina (Sis) Dunham, in Poplar Bluff Missouri. She married Thomas O. Nichols in 1956 and together they moved to Madison in 1969.
Lucille is survived by her daughters, Sherry Howell, Jennifer Ann Thompson and Marsha LeGrand; grandchildren, John Eric Howell, Christopher LeGrand (Jamie) and Thomas Craig Thomspon (Sasha); great grandchildren, Nicholas Chase Thompson, Michael Catch Thompson, Reagan LeGrand, Luke Howell and Samuel Howell; special son, Lee Hawkins and special daughter, Mary Hawkins Butler.
Lucille was preceded in death by husband, Thomas O. Nichols, father, Charles Lee Dunham, mother, Willehmina Weebking Dunham and grandson, Jonathan LeGrand.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 5, 2021, 5:00-8:00 pm at Natchez Trace Funeral Home in Madison and again one hour before the funeral service on Friday, August 6, 2021, 11:00 am in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in the Natchez Trace Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Lucille’s name may be made to: The Home Place, P.O. Box 720, Madison, MS 39130.