Terry William Nichols

Terry William Nichols (Poppy), 71, of Kings Mountain, NC, died on Friday, February 2, while hiking on Battleground Trail in Kings Mountain National Military Park with a favorite canine companion.  Terry and his twin brother Tim, who predeceased him, were born on April 9, 1946, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Stanley Foster Nichols and Stella Colgate Walker Nichols, both of whom predeceased him.  He was also predeceased by his brother Raymond Lee Nichols and his nephews Frederic Colgate Nichols and Clinton Coleman Nichols.  Terry is survived by his "favorite" daughter, Margaret Butterfield Nichols (Meg), his "favorite" grandson ("Grand Prince"), Luca Walker Lazzarini, and his brothers, Clinton Colgate Nichols (Jarvis Rose) of Hattiesburg, MS, and David Walker Nichols (Chini) of Charlotte, NC.  He is also survived by five nieces and nephews.

Terry was a graduate of West Davidson High School, Lexington, NC, and had a bachelor's degree from UNC Chapel Hill and three master's degrees, two from the University of Tennessee and one from the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

Terry had a lifelong passion for peace and justice and spent much of his life contributing to causes related to human need, care of creation, and "loving thy neighbor."  He loved spending time with his grandson—fishing and playing games, especially baseball, and doing lots of giggling.  While Terry volunteered in making repairs at Kings Mountain State Park, his true love was Kings Mountain National Military Park. He always lauded the bravery, commitment, and wisdom of the very common self-regulated "Over Mountain Men," frontier volunteers who created that first Patriot victory in our struggle for independence, respect, and freedom. He served for several years in leadership of the volunteer group "Battle of Kings Mountain Brigade of Friends." Terry was an active member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Gastonia, NC, where he was particularly interested in beautification of church grounds.

His memorial service will be Monday, February 5, at 2:00 pm, with visitation beginning at 1:00 pm, at All Saints.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Memorial Fund with designation toward placement of a bench in Terry's memory at an appropriate location on a hiking trail in the Kings Mountain Park area.