About Us

A Legacy of Service

James Rufus "Red" Nichols

August 19, 1914 - April 20, 2006

In 1942, James Rufus "Red" Nichols, a native of Anniston, Alabama, assumed ownership of the only funeral home in Winston County since 1912. Then, known as Dozier Funeral Home, "Red" had been a vital part of the business since 1935. Starting working for Mr. Dozier when he was 15, Red understood at an early age how important service was and how vital memorializing life was. Though uncommon in the early 1900s, Red was part of a select few who felt the importance of licensure, having graduated from the Gupton-Jones School of Embalming in Nashville, Tennessee. 

After the purchase of Mr. Dozier's funeral home, Red changed the name to what we now know it as- Nichols Funeral Home. He worked hard to personally serve each family with dignity, respect, and attention to detail. As funeral service evolved, Mr. Nichols moved his business to the middle of Haleyville, near the highway 195 and highway 13 intersection. His small, two-story funeral home resided there until the early 1960s when the current building at 1607 11th Avenue (Haleyville) was built. It offered a large chapel, and air conditioned facilities- something he was thankful to be able to offer his families. Later, Mr. Nichols Built two more locations in Addison and Double Springs, so that families in the area wouldn't have to drive so far when the need arose for his services. 

In 1999, Mr. Nichols retired and later passed away in 2006 due to an extended illness. Today, Nichols Funeral Home still operates under the same precedent Mr. Nichols set forth- To serve each individual family with dignity, respect, and attention to detail. We are still "here for you".

Credit source:

http://www.freestateofwinston.org/jrn.htm