Valentine "Ashmore" Nicholson

MADISON, FL: Funeral services for Valentine Ashmore Nicholson, 94, who died Friday, January 16, in Madison, FL, will be held at 11a.m., Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Welcome Baptist M.B. Church with Pastor Michael Brown officiating. Burial will be in the McCay Cemetery with Thompson Funeral Home, Inc. of Port Gibson in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be Friday, from 1p.m. until 5p.m. at the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel and Saturday, from 10a.m. until service time at the church.

Mrs. Nicholson attended Claiborne County Training School, Tougaloo College where she received her B.A. degree and Ohio State University where she received her M.A. degree. She moved to Quitman, MS where she taught at Shirley Owens High School in the late 50's early 60's. In 1964 she relocated to Madison, Fl where she was recruited by her previous principal in Quitman, MS and taught at Suwannee River Jr. College and North Florida Jr. College as an English teacher/professor. Val as some would call her had the love of poetry and spent much time teaching students to recite The Creation by James Weldon Johnson.

Valentine was a faithful member of the Damascus Missionary Baptist Church since 1965 and attended religiously helping any place in the church that she could until her health fail. She also joined the Madison RECS Club where she was president for many years. Valentine was also president of the ACTT Cooperation 501 C3 Child Care for years. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Early Nicholson; her parents, Essie Edwards King and George Willie Ashmore; her siblings on her father's side Bertha Ashmore, Laura Ashmore Williams, Pearl Ashmore, Lutio (Luke) Ashmore and George Ashmore Jr.

She leaves to cherish her Memories: a son, Jerome B. Nicholson of Jackson Ollie, Florida, one sister, Willie B. Ashmore of Chicago, IL, a special cousin and Guardian, Veronica West Watson of Port Gibson, MS; two special first cousins Mattie T. West of Port Gibson, MS and Lina Thomas of Dayton, Ohio; cousins, Vernan Edwards of Pascagoula, MS, Don Edwards of Jackson, MS, Danny Edwards of Atlanta, GA, and a host of nieces, and other relatives and friends including a special friend Mrs. Alma Wynn of Madison, FL and a special caregiver Mrs. Margaret Collins.