In Memoriam

Major Berley "Spanky" Nichols

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Major Berley "Spanky" Nichols

11 January 2013

Major Howard “Berkley” Nichols, age 45, of Aberdeen, MS, passed away January 11, 2013, at his residence. Graveside services with full military honors will be Friday, January 18, 2013, at 2:00 PM at West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Visitation will be Thursday, January 17, 2013, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbus, MS. Major Nichols was born January 14, 1967, in Huntsville, AL, to Jim and Nancy Garst Nichols of Germantown, TN. He was a graduate of Germantown High School and Memphis State University. Major Nichols received his commission through Air Force ROTC at Memphis State in 1990. He graduated from pilot training in 1992 and was assigned to the F-16. He flew the F-16 during assignments in Saudi Arabia, Korea and at Hill AFB. He had over 50 hours of combat time and was awarded the Air Medal. In 1997, he was assigned to Columbus AFB, MS, as a T-37 flight instructor pilot. Major Nichols transitioned to the Air Force Reserves in 2001. He was a highly respected simulator and flight instructor pilot in the T-38 with over 3,200 flying hours. He touched the lives of thousands of Air Force pilot training students. In addition to his parents, survivors include his wife, Michele Schiffer Nichols of Aberdeen, MS; son, Jacob Nichols of Collierville, TN; daughter, Shelby Nichols of Starkville, MS; stepsons, Samuel Stukenborg of Little Rock, AR and Benjamin Stukenborg of Little Rock, AR; stepdaughter, Rachel Stukenborg of Little Rock, AR; brothers, Russ Nichols of Germantown, TN.

Visitor Comments

Critter, Sep 13, 2014 - 06:27 AM

We miss you Spank , and thank you for the incentive ride in the T-38C it was awesome .

Family

Dan, Aug 27, 2015 - 05:18 PM

Berkley is my Mom's cousin and was stationed near where I grew up. In grammar school I bragged that my "Uncle" was an F-16 pilot and my friends didn't believe me.

My mom must have told Berkley and he showed up at my 6th birthday with his helmet under his arm and presented me with a flight jacket sized for a 6 year old.

He taught me how to shoot my pellet rifle.

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