Tyrone Carnell Nichols

Tyrone Carnell Nichols (Nick) was born on January 11, 1960, to the late Beatrice Nichols in Washington, DC. Tyrone was the 3rd youngest of nine children. He attended DC Public Schools, where he graduated from Ballou Senior High School in 1979 as Prom King. He has two daughters, Alicia Walker and Nichelle Nichols-Spenser, who were born in 1988 and 1989. On October 10, 1992, he married the love of his life, Sondra Jackson, and of that union, two sons, Cameron Nichols and Tyree Nichols were born. He also was a father figure to both Gregory Cunningham and Matthew McCray.

He furthered his education by attending Culinary Arts school, where he started his career as a “Chef”. From there, he had several jobs, including at the Marriott Hotel as Sous Chef. He catered special events for the Navy Yard Marine Barracks and Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, where he served as Dietitian Forman. He spent the last years of his career cooking for patients and catering numerous special events. After a long illness, he retired from the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in 2013. Throughout his illness, he never lost hope and continued his fight. Even when the doctors said "No", God said yes, and he never lost faith.

Tyrone loved to tell jokes, and his humor was unmatched. He was down to earth and would tell it like it is; that’s how REAL he was. Tyrone loved his family, and most of all, he just loved helping out in any way he could. He loved attending cabarets, going to casinos, catering family events. Tyrone was especially gifted when it came to designing fruit trays; no matter what event he catered, his ‘fruit platters’ were always the highlight of the event. Tyrone also loved sports from basketball, football, fishing, golf, bicycle, and wrestling. If he could not physically participate, then he truly enjoyed watching. Tyrone truly had the “gift of gab”. He could spend hours just talking to anyone that listened, and anyone who spent time listening to Dad, Uncle Tyrone, Nick, Beady, or Mr. Nick would come away with Tyrone’s knowledge and wisdom. He enjoyed Sunday dinners and watching his favorite sports team, the Buffalo Bills. Tyrone had a collection of suits, hats, and many books; of all the books he owned, the one book he was especially fond of was the Holy Bible. Tyrone was baptized and became an active member of the Bethel Christian Fellowship Church. He loved his church and participated in many church events, such as the Men’s Ministry, and other church-sponsored events. Tyrone truly loved his church home, and he often remarked that “Bethel Christian Fellowship Church was small, but they make a powerful noise.”

Tyrone’s proudest moments came into place by seeing Alicia, Cameron, and Gregory graduate from college, Tyree and Matthew graduate from High School and accepted into college. He was able to walk Nichelle down the aisle at her wedding. Those times were some of the happiest moments of his life.

Tyrone was preceded in death by his mother, Beatrice Nichols, and brother Clyde Nichols. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Sondra Jackson Nichols; two daughters, Alicia Walker and Nichelle Nichols-Spencer; sons, Cameron Nichols and Tyree Nichols, Gregory Cunningham, and Matthew McCray; and five grandchildren, Zhyair, Zhariya, Brylee, Zaylen, and Ziyon. Siblings: Clyde Nichols (Deceased), Melvin Nichols, Harold Nichols, Timothy Nichols, Melvern Nichols, Carolyn Nichols, Elaine Nichols, Yolanda Fowler (Russell), and Bernice Nichols and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.