Nichols, Margaret LaParr

Margaret Ruth LaParr Nichols, 85, passed away on Thursday, March 23, 2007 in River View on the Appomattox. She moved to Hopewell, VA from Rockford, Illinois in 1944. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nelford Shannon Nichols, Sr., her parents, Katherine and Henry LaParr of Rockford, II and a brother, Pvt. Edward LaParr of Chicago, IL
Through the years, she had been active in Hopewell in many capacities. She served as Chairman of Mother’s March on Polio, Junior Red Cross Chairman for the schools, Past President of DuPont PTA, Teacher of Homebound students and substitute teacher for Special Ed in the Hopewell School System. She was also Chairman of the Volunteers of Red Cross during the Vietnam War, chairing the Projects of the Ditty Bags and Voices from Home. She was a member of the Hopewell Emergency Crew Auxiliary, Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother and instructor of Boy Scout leaders for 25 years. She received the prestigious Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America. In 1958, she was honored as “Hopewell Woman of the Year”. She was an active member of the First Christian Church since 1945. Back in the ‘40’s, the Illinois resident was offered a contract by the Rockford Peaches, a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League featured in the movie “League of Their Own”. “Lefty” faced something of a choice – take the deal, which probably would have paid $100 a week plus expenses, or take her husband-to-be’s offer of a long-term contract. Her choice – Shannon – resulted in a 52 year “contract” and three generations of offspring. She is survived by her brother Robert LaParr and his wife Marge, of Antioch, IL, a daughter, Sharon Snyder of Yorktown, VA and her husband Joel; her sons, Nelford Shannon Nichols, II of Meshoppen, PA and his wife Jeanne, and Perry Allen Nichols of Oak Hill, VA and his wife Cynthia; 5 grandchildren; Kenneth Nichols and his wife Deata; Jennifer Shanks and her husband Sean; Suzanne Daniel; Amy Putney and her husband Michael; and Erin Nichols; 6 great grandchildren, Alyssa Nichols, Hanalee Nichols, Joy Putney, Seanan Shanks, Thomas Nichols and Aidan Shanks. A graveside service will be held Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 2:00 PM in Appomattox Cemetery with Bob Lane of First Christian Church officiating. A memorial service will be held Sunday, March 25, 2007 at 3:00 PM in First Christian Church with visitation to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, 203 N. 11th Avenue, Hopewell, Virginia. The family is being served by the Hopewell Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Condolences may be registered with www.jtmorriss.com