James Nichols

Jim (James Richard) Nichols, age 87, died at home in Statesboro, Georgia, on August 11 after an extended illness. He was born in Troy, NY, attended Union College and the University of North Carolina. He was Professor of English at Muskingum College before coming to Georgia Southern in 1987 as Professor and Chair of the English and Philosophy Department, retiring in 2000. A Marine veteran, he was widely traveled and sponsored a travel scholarship for GSU faculty. He published major academic works, a novel, and a collection of poetry. He was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church in Statesboro and served there as one of the best loved Lectors. He was also closely affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for many years. Jim was deeply interested in encouraging the arts and devoted himself to related causes, sponsoring annual dance events at the Averitt Center for the Arts, for example, and music programs at GSU.
He leaves behind his wife, Betsy; two sons, James, of Cary, NC, and Jonathan, of Denver, CO; one granddaughter, Cameron, also of Denver, and a sister, Bonnie, of Schaghticoke, NY.
The funeral will be held on Thursday, August 14, at 10:00am in the Joiner Anderson Funeral Home chapel with Shari Barr officiating. Burial will be at Eastside Cemetery.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory are in charge of the arrangements. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of James, please visit our Tree Store.