Pastor James Heinley Nichols

Pastor James Heinley Nichols, 87, of Chapin, South Carolina died Monday, January 2, 2023. Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on February 9, 1935, he was the son of the late Melvin Watson Nichols and Burnetta Heinley Nichols and the loving husband of 60 years to Mary Schofer Nichols. Raised in rural Ohio he spent his childhood in the footsteps of his uncles and cousins on the Ness Brothers Farm. His childhood experiences and passion for animals lead him to Ohio State University where he graduated in 1957. After undergraduate studies, Jim entered veterinary medicine school at OSU. However, before completing vet school, he followed a call as he would say, “to serve two-legged sheep rather than four-legged”. He subsequently graduated from the Hamma School of Theology, at Wittenburg University with a Masters in Divinity in 1961 and a doctorate from Oberlin/Vanderbilt Graduate School of Theology. Jim accepted his initial pastoral call to Mt Hope Lutheran in Shiloh OH where he served from 1961-1964. This was followed by a call to Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Seville OH from 1964-1967. Jim accepted a call in 1967 as Assistant to the Bishop of the OH Synod Office with a focus on social action and justice where he served until 1975. From 1975-1980 he served as Director and Retreat Leader at Yokefellow Institute in Richmond IN. Ultimately, following warmer weather, he served as Senior Pastor at Reformation Lutheran in Columbia, SC from 1981-1988. A life of building and participation in the early days of Habitat for Humanity formed a call to serve as the founding director for Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity in 1988. He served in this role until his retirement in 1997. In retirement, Jim continued his work with HFH including participation in Jimmy Carter international work projects in the Philippines, South Africa and Mexico. Additional volunteer work included, serving at Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem while living on the Mount of Olives. In “retirement” Jim served as interim pastor for various churches throughout the midlands of South Carolina and continued to serve as a supply pastor as he was able until 2022. He especially appreciated serving his last supply as pastor for St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Jenkinsville, SC. In addition to his wife, he is survived by children, Anne Nichols Miller (Mike) and Stephen Andrew Nichols (Erin), grandchildren, Samuel and Matthew Miller and Daniel and Andrew Nichols. The “family” includes several foster children and the Ksor family, Montagnard refugees. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Jane Ann Bechtel. Creativity was the heart of Jim. Baking bread, building houses, painting, whipping up a meal from leftovers (“WIG” Whatever I Got), preaching a sermon from the perspective of the Whale, or writing poetry, provided a means to touch many lives with a good laugh, a delicious meal, a different perspective, a deeper Christian faith or simply words of guidance. Food was central to Jim’s connection to people. Whether breaking bread as part of communion or sharing a meal, there was always room at the table with Jim and Mary. Ultimately, the heart of Jim’s ministry focused on living the words. There was no in between. As written in Micha 6:8, “what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”. A Celebration of the Resurrection Promise for Pastor Nichols will be held at 1 o’clock Saturday January 7th, at Reformation Lutheran Church, 1118 Union St, Columbia, SC 29201. Final committal and burial will immediately follow at St. Thomas Lutheran Church Cemetery, 215 St Thomas Church Rd, Chapin, SC 29036. The family will receive friends for food and fellowship at Reformation Church prior to the service beginning at 11 o’clock. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at ShivesFuneralHome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Jim may be made to: Reformation Lutheran Church, St. Thomas Lutheran Church and/or Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity.

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Pastor James Heinley Nichols

February 9, 1935 - January 2, 2023