Richard Nicholas

1930 - 2025

Richard Ludlam Nicholas of Baton Rouge, who was the epitome of a southern gentleman, passed away on November 3, 2025, at the age of 95. He was born at the family home Reeveland on the James River in Buckingham, Va., on October 28, 1930, the son of Frances Clay Ludlam Nicholas and Henry Reeve Nicholas. Richard was a direct descendant of Dr. George Nicholas (1695 – 1734) and Elizabeth Carter (Burwell) Nicholas (1688-1734) of Williamsburg, the founders of the Virginia family.

Richard "Dick" was predeceased by his first wife, Nelia Sutton Nicholas; daughter, Sara Shannon Nicholas; and his second wife, Linda Woods (Barnett) Nicholas of 38 years. He is survived by his loving wife, Joan Bodman (Covert) Nicholas of Baton Rouge; his beloved son, Robert Carter Nicholas (Erin McCormick Nicholas); and two grandchildren, Richard Taylor and Sarah Katherine Nicholas, whom he adored.

Other members of his surviving family include his stepsons, Ewen Pascal Barnett III of New Orleans, Walter Irving Tenney III of Thibodaux, La.; nieces, Suzanne Arton Marriott of Tampa, Fla., and Cary Nicholas Marriott Taylor of San Antonio, Texas; and nephews, George Hampden Nicholas, Jr. of Marietta, Ga., and Overton Randolph Nicholas of Woodville, Miss. He was preceded in death by his brother, George Hampden Nicholas of Woodville, Miss.; and sister, Florence Grattan Nicholas Marriott of San Antonio, Texas.

Dick married Joan Darlington Bodman (Covert) in 2020, who he had known in New Orleans in the 1970's. Their love was rekindled after 50 years and they were blessed with five years filled with love and the joy of being together again.

Dick attended elementary school in Scottsville, Va., graduated from John Marshall High School in Richmond in 1948, and from the University of Virginia in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Distinction. While at the University he was a member of the Raven Society and lived on the Lawn. He received a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Kansas in 1954 and afterwards worked for Shell Oil Company for 37 years in various assignments in Texas and Louisiana before retiring in 1991 as Chief Geologist.

Dick returned to his beloved Virginia in 1991 and began a second career in retirement as the family genealogist and a passionate Civil War and local historian. He compiled numerous reports on family history, authored several books on the Civil War and local history including "Sheridan's James River Campaign of 1865 Through Central Virginia." In addition, he wrote two volumes of the Virginia Regimental History Series and edited "The Tale of a Black Sheep," the latter being the memoir of Steven Price Maury, cousin of the famous Oceanographer Matthew Fontaine Maury.

He also authored numerous articles on local history for the Magazine of Albemarle-Charlottesville History and served on the Board of Directors of that organization and the Scottsville, Virginia Museum.

Dick was especially proud to have to have been the grandson of George Henry Nicholas of The Hermitage in Buckingham County, a Confederate veteran, and to have identified the names of the forty Confederate soldiers buried in the historic Scottsville, Virginia Confederate Cemetery.

As a 3rd cousin, thrice removed of Robert E. Lee, he was honored beyond measure to have had the privilege of introducing Robert E. Lee IV and his sister Mary Walker Lee Bowman, great-grandchildren of Lee, at the ceremony in 1999 celebrating the restoration of the Lee statue in Charlottesville.

Dick was a life-long member of the Episcopal Church and shared his faith as a confirmation teacher in Episcopal churches in Houston, New Orleans, and lastly at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Greenwood, Va., where he served for twenty-five years.

A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, La., on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 11 a.m., with a reception immediately following at the church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to The St. James Foundation, 333 Lee Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.