Wilmer Earnest Nichols

Born on April 26, 1943, in Samson, Alabama, he was the son of Robert and Minnie Nichols and grew up in Geneva County. Wilmer graduated from Coffee Springs High School in 1962 before attending Falls College of Drafting in Atlanta, Georgia, where he earned a certificate that enabled him to begin a long and successful career in Architecture and Engineering. Through hard work and nightly study, Wilmer passed the grueling Architecture Licensing exam to become a Licensed Architect, all while working for private architecture firms in Dothan. After joining the Mobile branch of the Army Corps of Engineers in 1982, he continued to excel in his field and in the Civil Service, culminating in the position as Chief of Civil Engineering at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. He earned his Bachelor of Science at Troy State University in 1997, after putting his wife and children through college. He was an active member of the Jaycees, Civitans, and Toastmasters, and later served as the president of two professional organizations. He received numerous awards for his strong work ethic, dependability, and organizational skills before he retired in 2022.

Alongside a successful career, he proudly served in the Army National Guard for 39 years, achieving the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4.

Wilmer was an active member of Taylor Road Baptist Church, where he served as an usher and had many friends with whom he and his wife enjoyed traveling and attending local theater productions.

He enjoyed spending time with his family and cooking large meals for the holidays. He had an engineer's mind and skill for mechanics and home projects, which allowed him to repair the family cars and oversee the construction of two of his own homes. He loved to laugh and loved movies with happy endings. After raising two daughters, he and Margie had a surprise baby boy in their early 40's, an event that brought them great joy. Wilmer was an affectionate and loving father who would do anything for his family, not only without complaint, but with enthusiasm and energy. One of the greatest gifts he gave his children was his deep love and devotion for their mother, his wife of 62 years, Margie.

Wilmer is survived by his wife, Margie Lee Nichols, and his children: Starla Lowery (John), Tara Berry (Christopher), and Brandon Nichols (Chintia Kirana), as well as his grandson, Benjamin Lowery. He is also survived by two siblings, Gladys German and Joyce Glass (Mack), and many nieces and nephews, all of whom knew him as "Buddy." He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and siblings: Russell Nichols, Inez Yates, Nell Rodgers, Mildred Nichols, Adolph Nichols, and Ronnie Nichols.

Visitation and a funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 27, at Alabama Heritage Funeral Home, 10505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, Alabama 36117. Visitation is at 1 pm, and the funeral will be at 2 pm, with the burial to follow at the Alabama Heritage Cemetery at the same address.