Margaret Ann Shelton Nichols

Margaret Ann Shelton Nichols, 74, of Lynchburg, Va., passed away on Monday, May 31, 2010. She was the loving and devoted wife of the late Twyman Clay Nichols for 30 years. Margaret was born on Sunday, June 16, 1935, in Pittsylvania County, Va., a daughter of the late Harry Shelton and Leathia Worley Shelton. She was a member of Beulah Baptist Church. Our devoted mother had one ambition in life...to love and be loved. We will miss her love and devotion. Her friends and family have written these words to describe her: virtuous woman, beautiful smile, loved her family, friends and neighbors, smart, kind, sassy, loved life and beautiful flowers, proud of her daughters and granddaughters, and...the quintessential Avon lady. She is survived by two daughters, Vicky Nichols Wilder and husband, Marty, of Fredericksburg, and Tamla "Tammy" Nichols and husband, Robert Shanklin, of Blue Ridge; three granddaughters, Nicole Lea Wilder, of Annandale, Victoria "Tori" Marie Wilder, of Fredericksburg, and Margaret "Maggie" Zola Wilder, of Fredericksburg; and one brother, Ed Shelton and wife, Thelma, of Altavista. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Aubrey Shelton and Cyril Shelton; and two sisters, Marie Shelton Franklin and Dorothy Shelton. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Friday, June 4, 2010, at Beulah Baptist Church. A service to celebrate her life will be conducted 1 p.m. on Friday, June 4, 2010, at Beulah Baptist Church with Brian Seay officiating. Interment will follow in Virginia Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of the Hills, 3300 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, Va. 24503 or to Beulah Baptist Church, 528 Leesville Road, Lynchburg, Va. 24502. Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, Va., is assisting the family, 434-237-9424. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.tharpfuneralhome.com.