Freddie Nicholas, Sr.

Dr. Freddie Warren “Nick” Nicholas, Sr. passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at his home in Ettrick, Virginia surrounded by his family. Nick was born in Hanover, Virginia to Thomas Henry Nicholas and Bertha Adele Nicholas.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of almost 64 years, Fay Jordan Nicholas, of Amissville, Virginia; son, LTC Freddie Warren Nicholas, Jr., USA, Ret., Esq., of Chester, Virginia (Marilyn Nicholas); daughter, Pamela Yvette Nicholas-Stokes of Chesterfield, Virginia; daughter, Lisa Melanie Nicholas of Charlotte, North Carolina; and eight grandchildren: Freddie Warren Nicholas, III., LT Bryana Kay Nicholas, Jonathan Edward Nicholas, Lauren Yvette Nicholas Stokes, Jordan Alexandra Stokes, Madeline Yvonne Stokes, Ian Alexander Nicholas and Eli King Nicholas. He is also survived by two brothers, Henry R. Nicholas and John R. Nicholas; one brother-in-law, Isaac Jordan; four sisters-in-law, Patty Nicholas, Bertha Nicholas, Marguerite Jordan and Hannah Jordan; and numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Thomas Richard, Clarence Eldridge, Bernard Carol and Wilbur Reginald; and three sisters, Bertha Adele Lucas (his twin), Gladys Byrd King and Bessie Lee Nicholas.

After obtaining his high school diploma from Hanover County Training School in 1944, Nick, with the encouragement and guidance of his mentor and friend, Mr. John Fleming, Sr., matriculated to Virginia State University. His higher educational pursuits were briefly interrupted while he served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the European Theater from 1945 – 1946, however he returned to Virginia State, upon his honorable discharge, from which he received his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education in 1951. It was during this time that he met his adored wife, Frances Fay Jordan, whom he married on April 5, 1952. Nick went on to receive the Master of Science degree in Agricultural Education with a Minor in Secondary School Administration from Virginia State in 1965 and his doctorate (Ed. D.) in Higher Education Administration from the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education in 1973 where he was the first African-American to graduate from this doctoral program. He also, received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Virginia State University and his Doctorate Degree from the University of Virginia.

From 1951 to 1966, he held the positions of Head Teacher of Vocational Agriculture and then Assistant Principal at George Washington Carver Regional High School in Culpeper, Virginia. He was beloved by his students and was a dedicated mentor to many, some with whom he remained in close touch to the end, such as his God Son, Les Daniel. In 1966, Nick and Fay moved their family to Ettrick, Virginia when Nick accepted the position of Assistant Professor/Teacher Trainer at Virginia State University where he remained until 1970 when he left to pursue his doctorate degree.

From 1972 to 1979, upon completion of his doctoral studies, Dr. Nicholas served in the capacities of Dean – J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Richmond, Virginia (1972 – 1974); Provost – J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Downtown Campus (1974 – 1978); and Executive Vice President – Virginia State University (1978 – 1979). In 1979, the JTCC board selected him as President of John Tyler Community College (JTCC) in Chester, Virginia making him the first African-American President in the Virginia Community College System. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1990 but was called back into service to lead the Virginia Community College System as Interim Chancellor from 1990 to 1991 in Richmond, Virginia from which he fully retired.

Nick was the recipient member of numerous commendations, awards and honors for distinguished service and leadership from various civic, educational, governmental and religious organizations and institutions, just a few of which include: Student Services Building, John Tyler Community College named The Freddie W. Nicholas, Sr. Student Center; named President Emeritus, John Tyler Community College; University of Virginia, Curry School of Education Conference Room 206 in Ruffner Hall – named for him; Alumnus of the Year, University of Virginia – Curry School of Education; Certificate of Merit and Distinguished Alumnus Virginia State University; Distinguished Service Award, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors; Educator of the Year, Phi Delta Kappa; Warren G. Thompson Community Service Award, Chester Rotary; Political Awareness and Involvement and Distinguished Community and Civic Leader Awards, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Petersburg Alumni Chapter; Martin Luther King, Jr, Award, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

He has served on numerous boards, commissions and associations: Board of Visitors, University of Virginia; Past President University of Virginia Curry School of Education Foundation; Raven Society, University of Virginia; Board of Crestar (SunTrust) Bank; Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield County; Board of Directors, Southside Regional Medical Center; Board of Directors Virginia State Chamber of Commerce; Board of Directors Virginia Museum of Natural History; Founder/Past President, Virginia State University Agricultural Alumni Chapter; Past President, Association of Virginia Colleges; Secretary Presidents’ Roundtable American Association of Community and Junior Colleges (AACJC); Board of Directors AACJC; American Association of Higher Education; American Vocational Association; National Educational Association; Legislative Committee, Virginia State University; Board of Directors, Richmond Urban League; Vice President Public Relations, Robert E. Lee Council Boy Scouts of America; Vice President, Board of Directors – Chester YMCA; Chairman, Finance Committee – Chester YMCA; Board of Trustees, Virginia Council on Health and Medical Care.

Nick was also a member of several social and civic organizations including his beloved Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated in which he was made in 1948 in the Alpha Phi Chapter at Virginia State University and remained an active member in the Petersburg Alumni Chapter, served as Polemarch (undergraduate and graduate chapters) and was a Life Member. He was also a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated (Alpha Beta Boulé), Phi Delta Kappa, Grand United Order of Oddfellows and the Masonic Lodge of Culpeper, Virginia.

For many decades, Nick was a committed and involved leader in his beloved Chesterfield, Petersburg and Richmond communities. He was a longtime and active member of Zion Baptist Church in Petersburg Virginia where he served on the Finance Board for several years and also held the position of Chairman. He also sang in the J.B Brown Memorial Choir and the Men’s Choir. Additionally, he was a Life Member of the NAACP;Futures Committee, Chesterfield County; Petersburg Rotary Club; Richmond Urban League Board of Directors; Civic and Progressive Action Association of Matoaca District; Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia; and an active member of the Ettrick Neighborhood Watch.

Nick was the most devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, brother-in-law with which any family could be blessed, and he was an esteemed colleague, mentor and loyal friend to many. It is impossible to express the extent to which he will be missed, but his amazing legacy will continue to live on.