Claire Eastman Nickels

Claire Eastman Nickels, 95 years of age, died Monday, March 12, 2012. Claire was born in Richmond, Virginia on September 26, 1916. At the age of three, her father moved the family to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she spent most of her life.

She received a B. S. degree in Education from Longwood College (now Longwood University) in 1937. Longwood, located in Farmville, Virginia, was the first state institution of higher learning for women in Virginia. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha.

After teaching one year of Business English at Hoyle’s Business College in Raleigh, she taught high school English, French and Drama for five years. In 1947, she was hired by North Carolina Governor Gregg Cherry as his personal secretary. She remained in the Governor’s office and served six other Governors (Kerr Scott, William Umstead, Luther Hodges, Terry Sanford, Dan Moore and Bob Scott) in various positions, including Budget Officer, Extradition Officer, Administrative Assistant and Administrative Officer. In December 1972, Claire retired from the State of North Carolina after 25 years of service. Governor Bob Scott wrote about Claire, “I simply do not believe the Governor’s office can function without you, I don’t care who sits in the Governor’s chair.”

In January 1973, Claire went to Washington, D. C. as Personal Secretary to U. S. Senator Jesse Helms. Although she was a lifetime Democrat, politics and party never came up when Senator Helms hired her. She remained there for nine years, retiring from the Federal Government in October 1981. At this point, Claire had completed over 34 years service in State and Federal Government.

Claire was named North Carolina’s Outstanding State Employee in 1965. In 1987 she received the Longwood College Distinguished Alumni award. She authored and edited the booklet entitled “Extradition in North Carolina,” and helped form and organize the National Association of Extradition Officials of which she was an honorary member.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dick and Edith Eastman, her husband William W. Nickels, and her sister and brother in law Thelma and Percy Olive. She is survived by her daughter and son in law, Peggy and Dan Efird of The Woodlands, Texas, her granddaughter Dianne Gilmer and her husband Art and great granddaughter Mackenzie Bolin of The Woodlands, Texas, her grandson, Stuart Pope, Jr. of Raleigh, and her sister and brother in law Betty and Ed Lee Coley of Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Cr., Raleigh NC, 27607 in Claires’ name.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday March 15, 2012 at 3:00 pm at Historic Oakwood Mausoleum.