Bishop Nichols’ funeral will be held tomorrow at Emanuel AME Church in New York City (See information appended below). His biographer, Mrs. Jeanette Johns, was kind enough to share Bishop Nichol’s Obituary with the readership of The Christian Recorder.
The editorial staff of The Christian Recorder Online made the decision to print Bishop Nichols’ entire Obituary rather than just a portion if it.
The Right Reverend Gregory G. M. Ingram, the Chair, Commission on Publications, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour. Jr., Publisher and the Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the Editor of The Christian Recorder, on behalf of all of the subscribers of The Christian Recorder, wish to convey our heartfelt sympathy to the Nichols family.
Our thanks to Mrs. Jeanette Johns and the Nichols family for sharing the Obituary of Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols (October 15, 1900 – January 24, 2005)
O B I T U A R Y
BISHOP DECATUR WARD NICHOLS
October 15, 1900 – January 24, 2005
Well known for his sense of humor and resulting witty remarks, during a sermon at Bethel A.M.E. Church, Huntington, NY in November 1997 Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols quipped: “If I live three more years, I’ll be 100; and if I don’t … well then, I’ll be dead.” He did, indeed, live to be 100 and what a celebration there was in honor of this milestone granted to him by the God he was still serving so faithfully at that time! On October 21, 2000 his relatives and friends came from North, East, South, and West to attend a Service of Thanksgiving held at Emanuel A.M.E. Church, New York City, the very first church he served as pastor, and to praise God for the life of His beloved servant.
As he approached his 104th birthday, plans were considerably simpler. The Bishop dined at his home of over 60 years in Huntington Station, Long Island, New York with those who meant so much to him and supported him in every possible way, taking care of his every need. His daughter, Wardean Nichols Henry, who lives in close proximity to her father’s home and looked forward to seeing him every day, made his favorite chocolate layer cake and provided his favorite Haagen-Dazs Strawberry Ice Cream.
His younger daughter, Sioux Nichols Taylor, described his status at that time: “He’s slowing down and mellowing out”. And then, with her inimitable enthusiasm added, “My daddy is the greatest man since Jesus!”
Bishop Nichols has always loved chocolate and just before his birthday, his biographer, Jeanette T. Johns (“The Upward Journey; A Centenarian’s Chronicle”, A.M.E. Publishing Company, 2002) visited The Bishop at his home. She took him 104 Hershey kisses, hand-counted! They were in a basket lined with a purple napkin, the color associated with our Bishops of the A.M.E. Church. She and his daughter, Sioux, peeled the wrappers off several of the chocolates and fed them to him throughout the afternoon – much to his delight! As the Bishop reached his 100th birthday Mrs. Johns had been asked by the family to write their father’s story. Shortly after publication, a Book-Signing Event was held in February of 2003 at Bethel A.M.E. Church, Huntington. Seated at a table with The Bishop, copies of the book were autographed for over two hours. The Bishop surprised everyone as he greeted more than 100 potential readers and eagerly autographed books for them. He did not use a stamp, as had been suggested to ease the task for him; he did not write his initials only (another suggestion), but wrote his full name in each book. During that birthday visit Mrs. Johns shared an album of photos of that event and The Bishop enjoyed reminiscing about the afternoon that had produced so much excitement and happiness for him.
Responding to a request from Bishop Richard F. Norris, Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District, a “Card Shower” assured the Bishop and his family members of the continuing love and respect that permeated his life. Beautiful birthday greetings started to arrive at his home during the week before his birthday, resulting in a unique 104th birthday tribute.
In the Nichols Family Archives there is a photo of nine outstanding pastors and Presiding Elders. This photo was taken in South Carolina in 1908 and in the center of the photo stands an eight-year-old lad whose facial expression could clearly lead you to believe that he had just conducted a very important business meeting involving these elevated leaders of the church. At age 101 Bishop Nichols was shown this picture and he enthusiastically provided left-to-right identifications for all but one of those gentlemen whom he had met at the tender age of eight years old. He remembered not only their full names, but their churches, positions served, and other interesting personal tidbits about each one. One of the men in the picture was his father, Presiding Elder L. Ruffin Nichols. It was a truly rare father/son relationship between these two that set the stage for the life of young Ward Nichols. He adored his father and stuck to him as though linked by the strongest variety of glue. The father took the little son with him everywhere he went. Ward attended all business meetings, conferences, conventions and church services with his father and was a constant companion to him. Later he would say, “I wanted to be just like my father!” It was this remarkable beginning that paved the way for Ward to achieve his goal.
Born October 15, 1900, youngest of thirteen children, he grew up in a privileged family and his father and mother made it possible for him and his siblings to attend the best schools available to Black children at that time. After completing twelfth grade at Avery Normal Institute, a private school for colored children, he attended Howard University in Washington, DC, where he majored in History, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree.
While there he was a member of the Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the first one ever formed of that great national fraternity. His beloved Omega cap occupied a position of honor on his bedpost at his Huntington Station home.
After graduation from Howard he received the Maser of Arts in Missions and the Bachelor of Divinity Degrees from Drew University in Madison, NJ. Since then he has received numerous honorary degrees from colleges appreciative of his outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the A.M.E. connection and the world.
Once hailed as the youngest Bishop ever to be elected in the A.M.E. church, Bishop Nichols was described fondly by A.M.E.s as “The Bishop of Bishops” and the “Senior of Seniors”. He was also known internationally as “The Senior Bishop of Methodism,” for he was the oldest Bishop in ALL of Methodism, worldwide. The years that transpired between these designations allowed him to advance to the point where he emerged as one of the most influential A.M.E. Bishops of all time. In 1948 he attended the historic first meeting of the World Council of Churches, an organization which brought together churches of all denominations. Representing the A.M.E. Church, he served on the Executive Committee and later as Vice-President. He also traveled to Oxford, England in 1952 where he attended the first meeting of the World Methodist Organization which brought together all Methodist churches in the world. He served on the Executive Committee and was one of the Vice-Presidents. Asked what contribution he felt he had made to such groups, Bishop Nichols replied, “They learned that Blacks were capable of more than just serving on the Hospitality Committee. They learned that Blacks could plan agendas and workshops and participate in all the other activities of the organization. They learned that Blacks also had an opinion, no matter what the question was.”
Numerous world leaders have benefited from his wisdom, as have the leadership and members of the A.M.E. Church. To his immense credit, he could deal with the royal and the commonplace with equal aplomb. This eminent Bishop was grand and majestic in his bearing. Still he had work to do with the people of his own denomination and he continued to serve God and humanity in humility and with dignity.
Bishop Nichols served Episcopal Districts 9, 1, 11, 12, and 7. He retained a special fondness for District Nine, Alabama, his first Episcopal appointment, where he found the people to be warm, gentle, and cooperative. He remembered their kindness to his family and they were encouraging to him and exhibited understanding as he established himself in the position of Bishop and went about his work. He particularly remembered how the people rallied around Daniel Payne College in Birmingham, AL. They benefited from his expertise as he completed an unfinished building, satisfied the college’s $83,000 mortgage, remodeled the property to the extent of $110,000, built the President’s home, boys’ cottage, teachers’ cottage, college luncheonette, girls’ dormitory, and library. He also remodeled the chapel, installed a new lighting system, built roadways, landscaped grounds, and remodeled the entire area. He succeeded in getting Daniel Payne College accredited by the proper educational organizations.
When he was appointed to the First District he sensed the invisible, but real, barrier that existed between the ministers and laity of the church. His firm belief in the ministers and laity working together for the good of the connectional church led him to plan and structure an organization which would create a sense of togetherness. He started the Laymen’s League in the New York Conference and the First Episcopal District. Later, in deference to the women of the laity, it was re-named the Lay Organization.
This Bishop was full of innovative and interesting ideas for programming. A Chautauqua is known as an assembly for education and entertainment of adults by lectures, concerts, etc. held for several days. The First Episcopal District Institute and Religious Education Chautauqua were held at historic Bethel A.M.E. Church in New York City on September 29-30, 1948. After a series of informative, inspirational, and satisfying events, the closing extravaganza was held at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City. That alone made it an uncommon event, as Carnegie Hall is synonymous with music, poetry, and art of the most elegant type. Only the truly great appear on this stage. At the end of the evening, in the presence of 4,000 people, Bishop Nichols presented a check for $30,000 to Wilberforce University and also a check for $5,000 to be used by Payne Theological Seminary. As this historic evening drew to a close and the unique Chautauqua reached its conclusion, it was the feeling of the people that with free admission to this beautiful, renowned structure, the A.M.E. church had come a long way from an abandoned blacksmith shop in Philadelphia to Carnegie Hall in New York City. It was Bishop D. Ward Nichols who had led them to Carnegie Hall and afforded them this rare opportunity.
Such was the caliber and momentum of this Bishop’s work. In similar fashion, Bishop Nichols left his mark of excellence on each district that he served. In some cases he devised methods of rescuing our A.M.E.-supported colleges from financial ruin. And always, when he ended his term in a District, membership had been increased and financial stability had been achieved.
Unfortunately, things do not always run smoothly, even in a highly respected religious organization such as the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Nichols’ life was about to be interrupted and thrown dramatically and unexpectedly into an eleven-year tailspin. He was charged with misuse of church funds and suspended from serving as a Bishop. Court cases trudged on and on and on for 11 years; however, he was finally cleared of all charges and reinstated. Asked how he survived this disgusting situation which dragged on for so many years, The Bishop replied, “Just put my hand in the Lord’s hand and walked on through. That’s all.” And he spoke of being sustained by his favorite scriptures: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1) and “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.” (Psalm 27:1-2)
Bishop Nichols was a Civil Rights advocate and participated in the infamous forty-mile Freedom March from Selma to Montgomery, AL and several other demonstrations. He was even arrested for one of his efforts for the cause of Civil Rights. He was in the company of Rev. Jesse Jackson as they attempted to integrate the Francis Marion Hotel in Charleston, SC. and recalled a photo taken of them being put in a “paddy wagon.”
He once provided a secret hideaway in his home for Rev. J. A. Delaine, a prime mover in the suit to end racial segregation in the public schools of Clarendon County, SC. This case evolved into the historic case, Brown vs. Board of Education. Rev. Delaine was not safe in SC as he was pursued by officials there; however, it was known that he would not be able to get a fair trial so he found refuge with Bishop Nichols and his family in New York City. Eventually, Bishop Nichols had to intercede with the New York Governor, Nelson A. Rockefeller, to keep him from being extradited to SC. because he would surely have been killed had he returned. He was finally released in Bishop Nichols’ custody and his wife and daughter were also given safety in the Nichols home for several months.
Other than the adversity associated with his church, Bishop Nichols’ worst moment came when he faced deep personal grief as his wife of over 50 years died in 1993. She had come into his life after the death of Susan Bailey Nichols, his wife and mother of their two daughters. Tragically, she died in childbirth in 1931 leaving two baby daughters to be cared for. Two of her sisters came from their home in Maryland to care for the little girls. Sarah Katherine Bailey became known to the little girls as “Mama Kay” and Beatrice Bailey became known as “Mama Bea”. Several years later young Ward Nichols married Katherine. To friends she became “Mama Kay” as well as to her girls, and her husband became “Papa Nick”, the same name that had been applied to his father many years before. Katherine emerged as the “perfect pastor’s wife”, “the perfect mother”, and later the “perfect Bishop’s wife”. Her support of her husband’s ministry was extraordinary. At her death, The Bishop again called upon his favorite verse of scripture: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
God continued to smile upon His faithful servant and provide him with reasonably good health until the very end. His most recent trip took place in July 2004 when Sioux Nichols Taylor, his faithful travel companion for many years, accompanied her father to The General Conference of the A.M.E. Church held in Indianapolis, IN. Observing his past attendance records, it is inconceivable that Bishop Nichols would have missed his beloved General Conference under any circumstances as long as he could travel safely with his daughter.
Eagerly anticipating his 104th birthday, The Bishop had his own thoughts concerning his current condition. He shared his wisdom: “Anything over 100 is wearing out and you can’t always fix it.” Perhaps he referred to his dimming vision, his not-so-perfect hearing, and the weakening of that strong, rich, distinctive voice of his preaching days. Still, he knew that he was blessed to have a caring family, constant attention from those who loved him most, and that God’s loving arms continually enfolded him in tenderness. Under these circumstances he finally allowed himself the privilege of slowing down and eventually simply growing tired.
In carrying out his national and worldwide duties as a religious leader, The Bishop traveled extensively, having crossed the Atlantic Ocean 87 times and circumnavigated the globe three times. After he had completed his major travels, he once asked his travel agent, “Do you think there are any places left for me to visit?” Aware of the extent of his travels over many years, she replied, “Well, there’s heaven.” The time for this travel opportunity has finally presented itself. On Monday, January 24, 2005 Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols, revered clergyman of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, completed his lifetime travel itinerary. In the early evening, he had been tenderly tucked in his bed and in the company of a friend and a family member he quietly, peacefully made the transition from earth to heaven.
Those who remain to enjoy reminiscing about the events of the long and inspiring life of Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols are his daughters, Wardean Nichols Henry and Sioux Nichols Taylor, son-in-law, John R. Henry; grandchildren, Stephen W. Henry (Shelley), Ward Nichols Henry (Debra), and Kawardra Taylor Hightower (Stephen); great-grandchildren, Charles Williams, Shawn Williams, Brittany Henry, Taylor Henry, and Bailey Hightower; a host of nieces and nephews, and innumerable friends.
Submitted with love and devotion,
Jeanette T. JohnsBethel A.M.E.
Church, Huntington, NY
The First Episcopal District
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2. FROM THE FIRST EPISCOPAL DISTRICT BISHOP'S OFFICE:
The following ADDITIONAL information is being provided regarding funeral arrangements for the late Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols.
Viewing - Friday, January 28, 2005
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
M. A. Connell Funeral Home
934 New York Avenue
Huntingdon StationLong Island, NY 11746
631-427-1123
Funeral -
Saturday, January 29, 2005
10:00 a.m.Emanuel AME Church
37-41 West 119th Street
New York, NY 10029
The Rev. Simon P. Bouie, Pastor
Church Phone: 212-722-3969
Fax No:212-722-6887
Reservations can be made at the LaGuardia Marriott
In the name of (Bishop Nichols Funeral)
102-05 Ditmars Blvd.
East Elmhurst, NY 11369
718-565-8900
Condolences may be sent to the family:
The family of Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols
68 Ninth Avenue
Huntingdon Station
Long Island, NY 11746
Please remember the Nichols family in your prayers during this time of bereavement
God Bless!Ora L. Easley, President
CONN-M-SWAWO +PK'SEmail: Amespouses1@aol.com
Phone: (615) 837-9736Fax: (615) 833-3781
3. CO-DEPENDENCY, SATAN’S SUBTLE SCHEME, PART 1
By Rev. Versey A. Williams
Initially, co-dependent sounds pretty good. Aren’t we, as Christians, supposed to walk with one another and help one another? Are we not our brother’s keepers? Co-dependency is one of Satan’s most eloquent snares. Co-dependent relationships offer many opportunities to exercise Christ’s mandates to forgive, turn the other cheek, go the extra miles and it will teach you how to pray.
People who are co-dependent form or maintain relationships that are one-sided, emotionally and/or physically destructive and abusive. Studies have been conducted on how people and families interact with alcoholics and drug addicts. The studies I read were about addicts. Since I lived with an addict for years, the studies simply confirmed what I have witnessed and experienced. Co-dependency can also occur between friends, parent relationships, caretaker and patient and siblings. Actually any relationship can become co-dependent. The co-dependent person moves his or her energy away from themselves (and God) to prop up, justify and “rescue” the other person.
Co-dependency really affects those persons who interact with addicts. Scripture teaches us to be nurturing and kind. Marital and co-ed relationships with an addict or abuser are particularly problematic. At first it seems like we are simply keeping our vow or commitment to one another person. There is nothing wrong with taking care of the other person. However, the basic foundation or principles that govern the relationship are not the same between the person receiving the attention and the person who becomes co-dependent. Christians stand on the biblical principles of the Word of God. Even when we see distasteful behavior, we tend to pray and be positive that things will change for the best. This is what hope is all about. We call into existence those things that are not by our faith in God (Hebrews 11:1). We are people of faith.
Alcoholics and drug addicts are not able to carry out most of the biblical principles on a consistent and truthful basis. Their addiction stands in the way of their relationship with God. This is not to say that alcoholics and drug addicts have no relationship with God…
(Read the complete article in The Christian Recorder and Stay tuned for Part II)
Rev. Versey Williams is the author of My Journey with Addiction, which will be available in bookstores in March.
She attends Trinity AME in Lansing, Michigan where the Reverend Walter W. Reid, Sr. is the Senior Pastor.
4. THE REVEREND AL PARIS SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON CONNECTIONAL ASSESSMENTS AND TITHING:
I fully believe and support Connectional Claims. I am of the opinion that all expenses of the Church should be paid by the tithes and offerings of the members of the church. This includes any claims that the Connectional Church makes on its member churches.The Church should be supported by the Ministry of Giving which I believe is contained in tithes and offerings of its people. I believe that his is the preferred “fundraising" effort that God can and will bless. I believe the promises of God and that is the method we should use to "raise" the money required for all of the expenses of the church. The tithe is the great equalizer in the church. The poorest of the poor provide just as much support for the church as the richest of the rich.
I also believe that it is a privilege to give to the Lord (Church). In the Book of Haggai, the Lord says, "The Gold is mine; the silver is mine! He does not need our tithes or offerings…the cattle on a thousand hills belong to Him." But God accepts our tithes and offerings because we NEED to give freely as Jesus gave of himself freely. In that same book, he says that if we deny the house of God while building our own houses, "our wages disappear as though we were putting them in pockets filled with holes!" [Haggai 1:6]
Some will say that the tithe no longer applies or that under grace we are not required to tithe. Perhaps that may be true but systems in place by God still work for His people. We no longer observe the Year of Jubilee but I dare our economist to study the background and effects of the Jubilee. One would have to conclude it is an excellent means of regulating one's economy.
Paul teaches that giving is ministry. I believe that too. I teach my own children and my children in the church to give 10% of everything they earn to the church, invest 10% for retirement, and use the remainder as they see fit. I you do this; you will not have to concern yourself about Social Security or your company's 401K plan. On a modest income and prudent investments our children and grandchildren can retire as millionaires. Someone will say, "If we are all millionaires, then the poor are millionaires?" There are many who will not give 10% to the church and most will not have the foresight to invest one dime out of every dollar they earn. To those who doubt this system do this: Get a copy of your total earnings statement from the Social Security Administration and see how much you would have invested, 10% of the total. Then calculate what you would have if using compound interest over the period of time the funds were accumulating.
(Read more about Reverend Paris' thoughts in The Christian Recorder)
