William Edward Nichols Sr.

William Edward Nichols Sr., 82, husband of Ruby C. Springs Nichols, died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, at the Tuomey Regional Medical Center.

Born in the June Burn section of Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Joe W. Nichols and Cora L. Barrineau Nichols.

Mr. Nichols was a member of Free Will Baptist Church of the Pentecostal Faith where he served as a deacon for 53 years. He retired from Williams Furniture – Georgia Pacific Company as a Supervisor after 40 years of service. He also retired from Carolina Furniture after nine years of service and he was the owner and operator of Nichols Memorial Company.

Surviving are his wife of Sumter; one son William E. “Billy” Nichols Jr. of Sumter; four daughters, Gail N. Coker, Dale N. Roark and husband Bruce, Joyce N. Bramlette, and Patti N. McCloud and husband Glenn, all of Sumter; one brother Tom Nichols of Lancaster; four sisters, Mary Woudwyk, Lou Hatfield, Ella Mae Hendrix, all of Sumter, and Jo Ann Morgan of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a special cousin, Jimmy Barrineau of Sumter.

He was preceded in death by five brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at the Freewill Baptist Church of the Pentecostal Faith with Rev. Larry Melton, Rev. Jim Tanner, and Rev. Carl Lavender officiating.

Burial will follow in the Sumter Cemetery.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home, and other times at the home of his daughter and son-in-law Patti and Glenn McCloud, 3330 Butterworth Circle.

Memorials may be made to the Freewill Baptist Church of the Pentecostal Faith, 971 Boulevard Rd., Sumter, S.C. 29153.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.