Thelma Martin Nichols Newton

Mrs. Thelma Martin Nichols Newton, 83, formerly of Williams, entered into rest Thursday afternoon, December 11, 2014, while surrounded by her loving family at her home on Lady’s Island under the care of Hospice Care of South Carolina. She was twice married, first to the late Mr. Ralph A. Nichols and secondly to the late Mr. Benjamin M. Newton.

Funeral services will be conducted 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon, December 14, 2014, from Marion Baptist Church, 1810 George Warren Drive, Williams. The Reverend Kenny Nichols and The Reverend Louis Bearden officiating. Interment will follow in Williams Cemetery.

Born September 3, 1931, she was a native of Lodge, South Carolina and was a daughter of the late Willie Cook and the late Bertie Martin Cook having been reared by her grandparents the late Capers and Carrie Martin. She was a retired manager from the Kenwin Dress Shop in Walterboro and for many years was the owner of Nichols Grocery where she became a well-known friend to many through her tireless devotion to the family store. She was a lifelong member of Marion Baptist Church in Williams. At her church, she was active in many aspects of the church’s work and was an Adult Sunday School Teacher and former director for the Women’s Missionary Union. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and will be fondly remembered for her love of fishing, gardening, and reading.

Surviving are: her children, Trish Underhill and her husband Jim of Lady’s Island, The Reverend Kenny Nichols and his wife Louise of Early Branch, Tommy Nichols and his wife Sherry of Smoaks, Eileen Newton and her husband Lane Banks of Port Royal, Teresa French and her husband Carl of Charleston, and Dell Jensen and her husband Erik of Florida; and five sisters, Ruth Shay of Columbia, Sadie Doggett of Aiken, Patricia Schmidt of Beaufort, Sarah Herndon of Beaufort, and Billie Craven of Walterboro. There are twelve grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren that also survive.

Flowers will be accepted, or for those that wish, the family has suggested that memorial contributions be directed in her memory to: Marion Baptist Church, Post Office Box 125, Williams, South Carolina 29493.

Family and friends are invited to call from 6 o’clock until 8 o’clock this Saturday evening at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro; 843.538.5408. Visit the registry online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.

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