Nashville, TN (TN Tribune)–Jane Marie Nichols, known as Jane Marie, passed away on April 13, 2021 after a short illness. She was born on 1/14/1950 and grew up in a large family with her parents, the late William H Nichols SR, a businessman and entrepreneur, and her mother, the late Emogene Nichols, a teacher, business owner and philanthropist. Jane Marie was the fourth child of eight siblings. The home was full with siblings and cousins who united to form a happy family. On March 14, 1981, Jane Marie married her devoted spouse, John David Phillips. Although they didn’t have children, Jane Marie coddled her nieces and nephews and treated them as her own.
Jane Marie attended Catholic schools and was baptized at an early age and continued her strong Catholic faith throughout her life. She was a natural leader who excelled in elementary school at St. Vincent de Paul Elementary and graduated from Cathedral High School, one of the few integrated schools at the time, as the Valedictorian and the Senior Class President. She then quickly graduated from Vanderbilt University in three years with a Bachelors in Biology. She pursued a career in the nascent nuclear medicine field before switching to South Central Bell (AT&T) in the Planning and Engineering Department. She retired after over 35 years in 2018.
Jane knew that she was blessed with intelligence, knowledge and prosperity. She helped her nieces and nephews with their school work, often answering questions on almost any topic without even looking it up. She enjoyed bringing joy and happiness to others by blessing them with unexpected gifts to bring a smile to their faces or to help fill a need. She had a way of knowing just what her family and friends needed even if it was not told to her. She also contributed to charities, often adopting a child in a far away country. She was also a leader in women organizations.
Jane Marie is survived by her devoted husband, John David Phillips, of 40 years. Although John David was away for a long time with his military career, they managed to stay connected and loving throughout. Also, to cherish her memory are her siblings, Nancy Nichols Cooper, Janice Nichols Overton (John), Diane Nichols Bass (Melvin) and Caroline Nichols Thomas. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Betty Patricia Nichols, brothers, William H Nichols JR and Ricky Nichols.
She loved her nieces and nephews Linda Overton, Valencia Townes (Kevin), Titus Thomas IV, Keith Bass, Stephen Nichols, Nicholas Thomas (Tamatha), Kevin Bass (Elia), Joseph Nichols, Jason Thomas, Jonathan Bass, Elizabeth Overton, Joshua Nichols (Myressa), Jacob Thomas, Rachel Nichols and many great nieces and nephews.
She also leaves many cousins (The Settles Family and The Southall Family), Darlene Burse Jackson German, Debbie Norman, William Burse, and other loving friends and family members.
