Janet Andrews Nichols

Mrs. Janet Andrews Nichols, 86, of Mount Airy, passed away peacefully at Forsyth Medical Center on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.  She was born April 26, 1937, to the late Emory Edwin Andrews and Lucille Rose Andrews.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Warren Cecil Nichols; and her twin sister, Janice Rose Andrews.

Janet graduated from Goldsboro High School and attended Guilford College, where she met Warren in a biology class.  They married the first Sunday after their graduation in June 1959.  The couple relocated to Mount Airy, where she taught at both the Mount Airy City School System and the Surry County School System.  She also taught one year of kindergarten at First Baptist Church before spending four hard winters in Saratoga Springs, NY.  They returned to Mount Airy where she raised three children and supported Warren throughout his successful career in the hosiery business before he retired from Renfro Corporation.

Janet had a co-membership at Central United Methodist Church and Mount Airy Friends Meeting.  She served on numerous boards and committees at both churches and in the community and often played piano and organ for the church.  Janet was an accomplished musician, playing piano, organ, saxophone, and clarinet.

She is survived by her son, Charlie Merlin Nichols and Amy Mann Slate; her son, Stuart Marshall Nichols and Jennifer Kelso Nichols; and her daughter Janet Leigh Nichols.

She deeply loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren:  Emily Nichols Miles and Jeremy Miles, Samuel Austin Nichols, Weldon Rose Nichols Abdallah and Asa Abdallah, Jessica Bean Nichols, Meredith Slate Robbins and Bryant Robbins, Margaret Slate, Caroline Rose Kirkman, Amelia Bean Wolik, Sadie Robbins, Grace Ann Miles, and Caleb Willen Miles.

She will be missed by her surviving sisters and brother and their spouses:  Adrene Andrews Brown, Elizabeth Andrews Bartle and Jack Bartle, Louise Andrews Clark, and Wiley Edwin “Bud” Andrews and Diane Andrews.

She will be missed by her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law:  Ruth Nichols Richards and Swanson Richards, Merle Nichols Tedder and Ron Tedder, Nancy Nichols Dawson, and Penny Nichols Chilton.  Janet is also survived by three nephews and eight nieces and their children and spouses.

Additionally, she will be missed by so many friends who she loved dearly.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Janet’s caregivers, home health team and healthcare providers, and the caring staff at Forsyth Medical Center.

The funeral service will be held Monday, December 11, 2023, at 2:00 PM at Central United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Danny Miller officiating.  A private interment will follow in the White Plains Friends Meeting Cemetery.  The family will receive friends Monday from 1:00 until 2:00 PM at Central United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Central United Methodist Church, 1909 North Main Street, Mount Airy, NC  27030; Mount Airy Friends Meeting, 109 West Wilson Street, Mount Airy, NC  27030; or White Plains Friends Meeting, 849 Old Highway 601, Mount Airy, NC  27030.

Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the family.