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“Building, in truth, was at the core of Art Nichols,” the Rev. Susan Norman Vickers said at his funeral in 2008.

“He loved it and was a master at it. Christ United Methodist Church has benefited from the passion and skill of Art’s workmanship which can be found in large and small ways through this church campus,” she said.

Vickers feels Nichols made a tremendous impact on the church during his 32 years of membership because he did what he could to help the church be the best it could be.

“He used his talents and gifts whenever he could — often in the background, but everything he did, he did because he thought it would help the church better be the church,” she said.

The following are some of the things he built and contributed to Christ Church:

• hand rails on each side of the chancel
• holders for the aisle torches
• candle box in the narthex
• clock in the choir room
• kneeler for the ministers
• holder for the candle lighters in the pulpit area
• Methodism plaque in the gathering space
• cabinet in the choir room
• holder for the eternal flame in the chapel
• cabinet to hold the ministers’ stoles
• cabinet to store the paraments
• chair rails in the disciple room and parlor

He also made the shepherds’ crooks for the children’s Christmas plays, the standards for the vacation Bible School banners and the chair rail for the disciple room.

In addition to his wood-building projects, Nichols did other jobs at the church, such as dusting the organ, which required climbing up on a tall ladder and reaching out with a special duster. He also stood on the ladder and used a long pole to knock down helium balloons which were stuck near the ceiling of the sanctuary after the Pentecost service.

Even during his years of sickness and dialysis, he was determined to help in the kitchen and serve at the Welcome Wednesday church dinners.

Vickers said Art and Margaret Nichols were one of the first families to invite her and her husband, Mark, into their home after they arrived at Christ Church in 1992. They shared a meal and the Nicholses told them the story of the magnificent Fisk organ, which is not only used by the church, but by musicians all over Greensboro and beyond.

“Art helped us to gain insight into the history and vision of this church as we started to build our ministry here,” Vickers said. “And for that, I will forever be thankful.”

Margaret and Art Nichols moved to Greensboro in 1977 from Bethel, Conn. He worked as an electrical engineer for Gilbarco. Margaret became a volunteer in the new Greensboro Hospital, which is now The Women’s Hospital. She is now in her 32nd year as a volunteer.

The past eight months have been particularly difficult for Margaret as she went through the pain and loss of three family members. Art Nichols died of an infection on Oct. 14, 2008, at age 84. Two weeks later their son, Richard, 54, died of pancreatic cancer.

Five months later, Art’s brother Emil died. He was a close brother-in-law because he had married Margaret’s sister, Mabel.

Although Art Nichols had been very sick for four years and was on dialysis treatments three times a week, Margaret said his death seemed almost unreal, as only the day before they had made a decision to retire to Greensboro’s new White Stone Masonic facility on Holden Road and had even chosen the location of their apartment.

Art had to make advance preparations to go to a kidney center for his dialysis treatments when they traveled, but he loved his family and did not want to miss family celebrations.

Margaret felt thankful they had been able to attend the graduations of three grandchildren from Tufts University and the wedding of their eldest grandson in New York.

Remembering her husband, Margaret said Art was a man of many talents, and that he found great joy and satisfaction in the use of his abilities.

“He loved to build things, so our home has some of his crafts in every room. He also left samples of his work in every church we had attended over the years,” she said.

“Art had a great sense of humor,” Margaret said. “So I am left with many memories of funny things he said and did.

“We met when I was 15 and Art was 16. We had 58 happy married years together and I have a lifetime of memories to enjoy,” she said.
As a couple, Margaret and Art enjoyed singing in the CUMC chancel choir for 32 years.

Art became a Revolutionary War re-enactor and was so talented in sewing that he made his own “red coat” uniform and hat. He enjoyed this activity in Connecticut in the mid-1970s, and when the Nicholses moved to North Carolina, he joined a regiment here and enjoyed many “battles” at Guilford Courthouse and other nearby battlefields. Not wishing to be left at home, Margaret also made a costume and became a “camp follower.”

Years ago when the Rev. Gene Little was pastor of CUMC, he needed a colonial outfit for a local holiday event. Art took his measurements and made him a costume.

Nichols served in the Navy during World War II on the USS Alcyone in the Pacific.

Margaret still has letters she received over 60 years ago from Art during his service years.

As Margaret had been with Art during their long life together, she was constantly by his side during his final time on Earth and was very moved when he looked up at her and said, “I know this is boring for you, but I’m so glad you are here.”

To nominate a person or organization for “Making a Difference,” contact Peggy Longmire by e-mail at rlongmire@triad.rr.com or call her at 288-9040.