Mazie Nichols

MAZIE NICHOLS Mazie C. Nichols passed away July 5, 2010. She was born Mazie C. Blackwell, May 5, 1922, in Morton, Miss. She was the daughter of Charlie and Dessie Davis Blackwell and was one of 13 children born to this union. She was baptized at and attended Pleasant Hills Baptist Church in Morton, and graduated from high school in Gulfport, Miss., in 1944. Mazie married her loving husband, Odell, June 6, 1944, and later that same year moved to Las Vegas when Odell returned to active duty in the U.S. Army. Mazie resided with and was cared for by her sister, Emma Blackwell Wilson and brother-in-law, Woodrow Wilson, during those years before Odell returned from the war. Mazie worked for several Strip hotel properties before starting her career at the Tropicana Hotel, where she worked for 28 years as a cashier, before retiring in 1983. Mazie was a faithful member of the Second Baptist Church for over 60 years and was proud to be a member of the Deaconess Board before illness prevented her active involvement. Mazie was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Dessie Blackwell; and siblings, Lee Blackwell, Melvin Blackwell, Charles Blackwell, Mellie White, Elizabeth Long, Mary McCoy and two who died in infancy. She leaves behind to cherish her memories her devoted husband, Odell Nichols; daughters, Claudette Enus (James) and Connie Barker; son, Odell Nichols Jr. (Beatrice); and a very close niece, JoAnn Conner (Robert), all of Las Vegas; grandchildren, Wendy Shelton (Allen), Corey Enus (Ebby), Jamie Enus, Hansel Jones (Saadia), Erin Barker, Ashley Nichols and Jarvis Jones (Princess); two brothers, Billy Blackwell and Fred Blackwell (Olivia), both of Las Vegas; two sisters, Emma Wilson of Las Vegas, and Lillie McCoy (Wilbur) of Morton, Miss.; brother-in-law, Prentiss McCoy of Morton; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and close friends. Visitation will be 1-7 p.m. Sunday, July 11, at Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 12, at Second Baptist Church, 500 Madison Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89106.