Mrs. Nellie Jane Nicholson

NICHOLSON, Mrs. Nellie Jane - Age 88, passed away Sunday, June 10, 2018 at Willowbrook Manor. Family hour 11:00 AM Saturday, June 16, 2018 at Faith Temple C.O.G.I.C., 5802 Fleming Rd., with funeral service commencing at 12:00 PM Pastor Eric W. Lewis Sr., officiating. Interment Gracelawn Community Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11:00 AM Saturday. Mrs. Nicholson will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM Friday with the family present from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM to receive friends. July 29, 1929 was a glorious day in Marianna, Arkansas for it was the day Ellis David Wright and Ellar Bell (Fuquay) Wright welcomed Nellie Jane Nicholson to their growing family. Their baby girl was the eighth child of twelve and although not the oldest, she was always striving for that position. As a young girl, she joined the New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Marianna, Arkansas and professed a strong belief in Christ. Nellie attended public school and was a very good student, however she had to work on the farm with her family. Nellie Jane married Joddie Nicholson in 1948. Together they left Arkansas and traveled to many cities and states seeking to make a better life for their family. Nellie was the proud mother of four daughters and one son, and she was determined to educate and raise her children with strong Christian values. Spring of 1953, Joddie and Nellie settled in Flint, Michigan where her gift as a hairdresser made room for her. She was a homemaker blessed with the gifts of cooking, sewing, woodworking and hairdressing, which she skillfully used to make a life and support her children. She was passionate about her family and love interacting with all the generations. She loved helping others and shared her time and treasure. Throughout her life she remained a faithful servant in the House of the Lord as an Usher, Fundraiser, and Church Mother. She always had mentors, three of whom were Mother Emma Collins, Missionary Leola Robinson, and Mother Mary West. The influence of these three women was pivotal in her life. Mother Nicholson was preceded in death by her parents, one son and daughter in law Joddie (Helen) Nicholson, four brothers, three sisters and three brother in laws and many cousins. Our beloved Mother Nicholson, Sister Nicholson, Aunt Nellie, Grandma and most affectionately called MADEAR leaves to cherish her sweet memories: Clara (Joe) Blakely, Almeda Nicholson (Terrance Curry), all of Flint, MI, Hazel (Jim) Wilson of Denver, CO and Diane (Michael) Magee Nicholson-Jones of Houston, TX; son/nephew, Lawrence Warren of Flint, MI; grandchildren, Joe Quentin (Maya) Blakley of Madison Heights, MI, Omar (Diane) Nicholson and Deyon Nicholson, both of Houston, TX., Okola Senika Nicholson and Camiya Nicholson, both of Flint, MI; great-grandchildren, Sanyla Nicholson, Deyonna Nicholson, Tyrien Griffin and Ariyah Nicholson; four sisters, Mime Lee (Charles) George and Alice Mae Sturdivant, all of Chicago, IL, Delphia Willis of East Saint Louis, IL, and Inez Andrews of Flint, MI; goddaughters, Pamela Harris and Joann Milum, both of Flint, MI, and Linda Martin of Seattle, WA; god-son, Terry (Ronda) Tanner of Denver, CO; special friends, Mrs. Doris (Collins) James - like a sister, Mrs. Marie Burton, and Mrs. Margaret Causey. The family would like to express special thanks to caregivers, youngest sister Inez Andrews and children, Lawrence Warren who kept a vigil visiting her everyday to help oversee her care, Dr. Purushottam Naik, Willowbrook Manor, McLaren Hospice, Pastor Eric Lewis and the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ family.

Mrs. Nellie Jane Nicholson

July 29, 1929 - June 10, 2018