Nicki Talbott Torres

"The world tells us to seek success, power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love." - Pope Francis Nicole "Nicki" Mignonne Talbott Torres, age 38, passed away in her sleep at home on July 13, 2025. Nicki was born on March 12, 1987, at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, to her loving parents Navarre and Michael Talbott. She grew up an "army brat," living in West Point, New York, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, RAF Alconbury, England, and Fayetteville, North Carolina. As she moved around the world with her family, she experienced and created incredible memories traveling the United States and to foreign countries like Poland, Germany, and Belgium. Nicki had a passion for learning which was only surpassed by her tremendous compassion for others to which she dedicated her life. Nicki used education and her natural gifts of kindness, empathy, and compassion to pursue her passion of serving and improving the lives of others as demonstrated by her profession, academic pursuits and achievements, and volunteer activities. She began her education journey by graduating from Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 2005. She went on to get her bachelor's degree in history from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2009, and then, her Master's in Counselor Education at Clemson University in 2012. She served as a proctor for Students with Disabilities while studying at Clemson University. After earning her Masters, Nicki worked as a victim's advocate at TESSA in Colorado Springs providing support for men and women affected by abuse and domestic violence. In her time as Student Conduct Coordinator and Resident Director at Alderson-Broaddus University, she balanced the responsibility of enforcing campus student standards while continuously helping students succeed in their pursuit of a college education. Nicki worked as an Adjunct Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), instructing undergraduate students on the principles of counseling and practical applications. Nicki most recently was preparing her dissertation defense to complete her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision at VCU. While working to complete her doctoral program at VCU, Nicki focused her research on identifying institutional gaps affecting parenting students' ability to thrive at college. Most of all, Nicki was a loving wife and amazing mother to her two beautiful boys, Luke and Jake. She threw herself completely into ensuring her family had a safe and loving home where Luke and Jake could grow and experience the joy of learning. Ever the social force, Nicki adored, loved, and cherished her family and friends. Nicki is missed by her husband, Joshua Torres, and two sons, Lucas Colin Talbott Torres (9) and Jacob Rhys Talbott Torres (1); her parents, Michael and Navarre Talbott; her two brothers and their families, Christopher Talbott (Cheryl, Harper, and Colin) and David Talbott (Danielle, Michael, and Elle); as well as her many friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, and godmother who she loved and who loved her. Nicki was preceded to Heaven by her grandparents, Marc and Shirley Lambert and Myrna and Ed Talbott, her uncle Mike Lambert, and her godfather Michael Morrissey. Visitation will be held on July 25, 2025, from 5 to 7 pm at Linnemann Funeral Homes (30 Commonwealth Ave, Erlanger, KY, 41018). A Mass of Christian burial will be held on July 26, 2025, 10 am, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (2409 Dixie Hwy Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017 United States). Nicki will be laid to rest at Highland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, and to honor Nicki's lifelong love of education and her dreams for Luke and Jake's future, we invite you to contribute to their college education fund. Your support will help carry forward her legacy of learning and love. Luke: https://go.fidelity.com/hpr6rf; Jake: https://go.fidelity.com/j6lh3w