Rev. William Howard Nichols, moderator of the Second Cumberland Presbyterian Church and pastor of the Ransom Temple church, Nashville, died following a heart attack April 11. He had suffered the attack during the meeting of Elk River Presbytery. He was 63.

Moderator Nichols was serving his second term in the position, which is according to the practice of the denomination. He was a member of the church's Board of Christian Education, was a delegate to World Presbyterian Alliance, and had served on numerous committees with members of the white church.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Helen Bernice Jones Nichols; three daughters, Mrs. Dorothy C. McGrady, Mrs. Anna O. Bolling, Mrs. Eula Josephine Lewis; one son, William Howard, JR.

Conducting the funeral was Rev. Joel Rice with Rev. E. D. McDonald, Rev. Carl Ramsey and Rev. DeShong Smith assisting.

Assembly Moderator J. David Hester gives the following impressions of the funeral:

"We shared the grief. The air was charged with deep-set emotion. A people had gathered to bid their pastor farewell. A denomination had come to lay to rest its moderator of nearly two years.

"So we went to the Ransom Temple in Nashville to the funeral services of Rev. W. H. Nichols. The services were begun at 11:00 A. M. and concluded at 1:30 P.M. There was much singing--hymns of joy and faith, sung only as they would be by a Negro choir made up of the four choirs of the Nashville area. The stated clerk of the Second General Assembly, Elder Roy Tinsley of Kentucky, was organist and sang a powerful solo, 'Bro Nichols' favorite.'

"Resolutions from many presbyteries and many local organizations were read; condolences from far and wide were acknowledged by the family. Honorary pallbearers were ministers of the Second Church; active pallbearers were elders of the local church.

"It was a moving experience for all of us. These people were crushed; but the glory of their faith was evident throughout the service. I'm glad to have been a part of that worship experience."
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, May 12, 1970, pages 3, 5 & 17]