Katie Mae Nichols was born on November 5, 1917 in Duplin County, North Carolina to the late Luby and Margie Davis. She was the oldest of 7 children. She went home to be with the Lord on August 18, 2015.
During the 1930's, she moved to Smithfield, NC and that is where she met John Nichols. After a long courtship, they got married and moved to a farm in what is now considered West Smithfield. They raised a variety of livestock and grew corn, wheat and tobacco crops. Katie and John had 9 children together while they lived on the farm. When John passed away in 1951, she became a single mother and made the decision to raise her children alone. She said, "With the help of God" she would raise her children and refused to separate her family. She had her youngest son, Stanley, later. She made sure that her children attended church every Sunday. Despite the fact that she had no means of transportation; they would walk to service every Sunday, all year long, rain or shine.
She left the farm and moved to the community of Sandy Run, where she worked at the tobacco factory to support her family. Eventually, she got a job at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Smithfield and worked there for over 20 years until she retired. After retiring from Johnson Memorial Hospital, she worked as a day care attendant at Shiloh Daycare Center in Smithfield until she was in her eighties.
She lived through the Great Depression, World War I and II, the Korean War and even heard one of the planes that hit the Pentagon during 9/11 in 2001 while staying in Virginia with her youngest daughter. She got to vote for the very first black president, Barack Obama and witness him being sworn into office.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Nichols; her daughter, Dorothy Blake and her son, Charles Nichols. She leaves to cherish and remember her love; three daughters, Annie Mason, Peggy Smith (Jerry), Chalsea Hutchinson (Larry); five sons, John Nichols (Betty), Joseph Nichols (JoAnne), Norman Nichols (Sherlena), Aaron Nichols (Christean), Stanley Nichols (Seleta); one sister Donnie Davis; one brother Clarence Davis (Laura); 19 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; 7+ great-great grandchildren; nieces; nephews and a host of family and friends.
Funeral Service:
Saturday, August 29
11:00 AM
St Peter's Disciples Church Of Christ
1011 Massey St.
Smithfield, NC 27577