Lonnie Arnold Nichols

Lonnie Arnold Nichols, a native of Young Harris, Georgia unexpectedly passed away Monday, August 19,2024 at 8:22A.M. He died in the Ronnie Green Heart Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia. Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents, John Arnold Nichols and Lillie Wheeler Nichols. He was an only child. Lonnie was born March 7, 1945 in Murphy, North Carolina as Towns County had no hospital at the time. 

He attended elementary school in Young Harris and mid level and high school in Hiawassee, graduating in the spring of 1963. He began college in the fall of 1963 at Young Harris College attending for a year and then enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1964. Lonnie received military training in law enforcement during basic training. Subsequently, he was selected for membership in President Lyndon B Johnson's Presidential Support Squadron in Washington D.C. and served all four years in that capacity. 

Upon completion of his military service, he joined the city police force in Lakeland Florida, serving first as a patrolman and subsequently as a detective. He retired from the police department after twenty years of service and began working as an investigator for the local States Attorney immediately. He worked in this position for ten year prior to retiring. Following the second retirement, he returned to Young Harris where he resided until his demise 

Lonnie had a number of interests and hobbies. He loved woodworking, hunting, fishing, boating, scuba diving, photography, picture framing, and cutting lumber and cutting firewood. He also loved to barbecue. 

Lonnie married Carol Seay on January 2, 1966 at Sharpe Memorial Church in Young Harris. Following a brief honeymoon, they moved to the Washington DC area where they resided for the remaining two years of military service. 

Lonnie then moved to Lakeland Florida where he and Carol resided for thirty years. They then returned to Young Harris in December of 1998. Lonnie is survived by his wife of fifty nine years and a number of cousins to include Jimmie-Jo Nichols, a long term active family member, and his sister-in-law Hedi Seay.

Visitation for Lonnie is Saturday, August 24, 10AM - 12PM at Banister-Cooper Funeral Home to be followed by his funeral at 12PM at Banister-Cooper. 

A member of Old Union Baptist Church he will then be buried next to his parents in Old Union Cemetery in Young Harris after a brief graveside service. 

Flowers may be directed to Banister-Cooper Funeral Home or in lieu of flowers donations may be made to Gideon International or, in memory of Lonnie, the Old Union Cemetery Fund P.O.Box 1741, Young Harris, GA 30582. 

Pallbearers: James Noles. Graham Noles, Eli Noles, Wes McClure, Steve Clark, Gene Coker, Gary Canup, Leon Brock and Beau McClure

Honorary: Granger Noles and Terry Nichols 

Visitation: Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Banister-Cooper Funeral Home from 10:00am-12:00pm

Funeral: Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Banister-Cooper Funeral Home at 12:00pm. Interment to follow at Old Union Cemetery