Morris Nichols

Morris Nichols was a loving pastor, devoted husband & father, and avid fisherman, although the order could vary depending on how the fish were biting. He could write a sermon from nearly any situation, and could build or fix just about anything he set his mind to, from fishing boats to dance studios. As a preacher at numerous churches around Thomasville he baptized, married, or buried countless friends, family members, and brothers & sisters in Christ.

He was born in Dade County, Alabama on March 5, 1932. At the age of 17 he joined the United States Marine Corps. Ten months later, despite terrible frostbite, he survived the breakout from the Frozen Chosin Reservoir in North Korea, with little more to eat than fruit cocktail and Hershey’s Kisses, neither of which he cared for the rest of his life. In 1955 he married Miss Frances Smith and they had one daughter, Becky. He worked as an electrician for many years, and later, while serving as a mentor to the Royal Ambassadors at Dawson Street Baptist Church, he answered God’s call to the ministry. He served as a pastor to many congregations around Thomasville, including Summer Hill Baptist Church, Northside Baptist Church, and Merrillville Baptist Church. He and his wife are currently members of Faith Baptist Church. Throughout his life, he was happiest when reading his Bible, spending time with family, or with a fishing pole in his hand. To him, Heaven would be having a Bible Study on a boat with his family while trolling for bass. Jesus called each of us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and Morris exceeded this standard, loving others more than himself. He went out of his way to help anyone who needed it, no matter how much of an inconvenience it might be to himself. Few things made him happier than the sounds of crying & laughing children; he said those cries represented the future of the Church.

Morris passed away in his sleep on Saturday, September 13, 2014, surrounded by his family singing his favorite hymns mixed with the laughter and cries of his three great-grandchildren, Addie & Gibson Kerlin, and David Barr. He was preceded in death by his brothers and fishing buddies, Virgil, Don, & Glenward Nichols, and his sister Gladys Griffis. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Frances Nichols, his brother Jack Nichols, his sister Ruby Long, and his daughter Becky Kerlin and her husband Marshall. He has two grandchildren, Scott Kerlin & his wife Meagan, and Christi Barr and her husband Chris. He has three great-grandchildren, David Barr, Addie Kerlin, and Gibson Kerlin, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 16, at 11:00am at Faith Baptist Church in Thomasville. The Dawson Street Baptist Church Royal Ambassadors will serve as honorary pallbearers. He will be buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Thomasville. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Phoebe-Sumter Hospice of Americus, 126 E. Furlow St, Americus Ga 31709, The League of the Good Samaritan, c/o Magnolia Manor 2001 South Lee Street, Americus, GA 31709 (magnoliamanor.com) or Faith Baptist Church of Thomasville 2600 Hwy 122, Thomasville Ga 31757.