Laurie Nichol

Laurie is survived by her loving husband of 38 years: Russell Nichol, her three children: Rachael (Matthew), Elyse (Joseph), and Randolph, and her five grandchildren: Eleanor, Emma, James, John, and Vivian. She is preceded in death by her parents: Donald and Eleanor Culbertson.

Raised in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, Laurie spent her childhood swimming, sailing, and later lifeguarding in the town’s many lakes alongside her siblings: Donald Jr., Robert, and Katherine.

She then attended her beloved Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee where she earned a B.S. in Nursing and was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After graduation she briefly returned to New Jersey, married her older brothers’ close friend, then moved to the South for a job opportunity for Russ. The pair settled in Marietta, Georgia where she lived the rest of her life.

Laurie worked as a nurse in several Atlanta-area hospitals including Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital, North Fulton Hospital, and the former West Paces Medical Center (where, to the delight of her co-workers, all 3 of her children were born). She spent weekends as a nightshift critical care BSN while parenting her children during the week, then transitioned to working in women’s care during the day after her children became more self-sufficient.

In her early 50s she returned to school, earning her Master’s in Nursing Administration from Jacksonville University. She spent the last years of her career on the corporate side of nursing as a risk manager for Wellstar Health System.

Laurie was very involved in her children’s schooling and extra-curricular activities. She spent most weekends cheering from the sidelines at soccer and baseball games, coordinating swim meets, attending color guard competitions, and weeknights carpooling her children and their teammates to practices. Family vacations and road trips were always paired with sing-a-longs to showtunes and Disney soundtracks and accompanied with a bag (or two) of Twizzlers. Summers were spent by the pool and winters were full of Christmas magic as Laurie made the holiday extra special for the family.

A memorial service for Laurie will be held at H M Patterson and Son Canton Hill Chapel on January 5 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to your local Humane Society or the animal shelter.