Irene Gibbs Nichols, 80, of Tifton died Sunday, October 9, 2005, at Beverly Health Care. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11, 2005, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Brantley Seymour and Rev. Wayne Driskell will officiate with burial to follow in Turner Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Berrien County. Bryan Walker, Eric Nichols, Josh Nichols, Wade Danner, Chris Doles and Deryck Perkins will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Monday, October 10, 2005, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Nichols was born on September 27, 1925, in Tift County and was the daughter of Luther Gibbs and Lillian Garren Gibbs, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Walter Terry Nichols. Before retiring in 1990 from the Tift County Board of Education, Mrs. Nichols served 32 years as the lunchroom manager at Len Lastinger Primary School. She opened the lunchroom when the school was Lake Drive Elementary and served over two million meals to Tift County students. She was presented a plaque of appreciation for her many years of service at her retirement banquet. She was a liftime resident of Tifton, a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in Tifton, a loving mother to her children and their spouses, and a devoted MeMa to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mrs. Nichols is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Charlotte Nichols of Tifton; one daughter and son-in-law, Marla N. and Freddie Walker of Tifton; one brother and sister-in-law, John F. and Vera Gibbs of Tifton; one sister, Kathleen Doles of Dublin; four grandchildren, Bryan Walker, Cheryl Danner, Eric Nichols and Josh Nichols; and four great grandchildren, Jessica Danner, Madison Danner, Alisa Walker and Nikki Walker.