January 16, 2021, 90, Pikeville –
Benjamin Franklin Nichols, 90, crossed the horizon of death to continue life in the presence of his Lord on Saturday, January 16, 2021, while surrounded by his family.
Franklin was born in Johnston County on August 22, 1930 to the late Mr. and Mrs. Oceola Nichols and was raised by Jody and Ada Sasser in the Nahunta Community. He was married for 59 years to the late Elga Wells Nichols. Franklin proudly served his country in the United States Army and later the United States Air Force during the Korean War.
He was a talented carpenter and worked his way up to be a superintendent with RN Rouse Construction Company. Later he went back to school and became the carpentry teacher at CBA where he was loved and greatly respected by both the students and the staff. Later in his career some of his students even called him “Daddy Nick” because they could see how much he truly cared for them.
He loved Pikes Crossroads church and knew that God had called him there. He served as a deacon for 38 years but also worked as the Sunday School Superintendent, song leader, Sunday school teacher, groundskeeper and sometimes fill-in pastor. He never ever wanted to be in the spotlight. He was a humble man and wanted God to receive all the glory.
The word of God was very important to Franklin, and his desire was that it be spread from shore to shore and across the globe. For that reason, he maintained an active membership in the Gideon’s North Camp, living out the great commission as prescribed to us by our Lord in Matthew 28:19- “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
With a great love of softball, Franklin played for many years in his church softball league. Opportunities for bowling or fishing brought great delight to him, and he enjoyed every chance he got to participate.
He was a man of great faith and his love for Christ was evident in the way he lived his life everyday. He would always say that no matter how difficult things might be God had a plan for his life and he trusted that plan. His greatest joy was his wife Elga and their children and grandchildren who he saw as God’s gift to him.
A service to celebrate Franklin’s life will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at Pikes Crossroads Pentecostal Holiness Church with his son-in-law, Rev. Marty Gurganus, and Rev. Ferrell Hardison officiating. The family has decided to not have a time of visitation following the service so everyone attending can social distance. Interment will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery with military honors.
Franklin waits on another shore for his children, Greg Nichols and wife Rhonda of Pikeville, Connie N. Gurganus and husband Marty of Pikeville, and Dwayne Nichols and wife Lisa of Pikeville; and grandchildren, Kate Nichols and husband Andrew Poole, Benjamin Nichols and wife Marah, Michael Gurganus, David Gurganus, Jonathan Nichols and wife Makayla, and Kristen Nichols.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in his memory to Pike’s Crossroads Pentecostal Holiness Church, 2494 Pikeville-Princeton Road, Pikeville, NC 27863 or to the Gideons, P.O. Box 10093, Goldsboro, NC 27530.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
