Betty Jean Gillespie Nichols

Mrs. Betty Jean Gillespie Nichols, 77 of Mount Airy, passed away on Friday January 23, 2026, at RidgeCrest Retirement in Mount Airy. She was born August 11, 1948, in Surry County to the late Wesley Oneadus Gillespie and Myrtle Latisha Hutson Gillespie. Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 55 years, Robert Wesley Nichols; two daughters and sons-in-law, Susanne and Chuck Puckett, and Kristi and Rick Ashworth; four grandchildren, Devin Cole Puckett, Kassidy Lia Puckett, Keeley Rae Cuthrell, and Sibylla Elizabeth Ashworth; step grandson, Brandon and wife Ronni Cuthrell; two step great grandchildren, Presley Cuthrell and Dawson Cuthrell; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Faye and Hugh Secrest, and Doris Childress; two brothers and five sisters-in-law, Pete and Mildred Gillespie, Melvin and Joyce Gillespie, Judy Gillespie, Juanita Gillespie and Susan Lee; and several other family and friends. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Nichols was preceded in death by three brothers and a sister-in-law, Lionel Barrymore Gillespie and wife Edna, Billy Gray Gillespie, and Benton Spencer Gillespie; and by a brother-in-law, Howard Childress.

Betty was a 1966 graduate of Surry Central High School, and was employed at Essex Wire during the 1970’s for 6 years. She then joined the family farming business and helped her husband Robert to operate Modern Repair & Machine for 20 years. She was a long time member of Blue’s Grove Baptist Church and attended Westside Baptist in later years as her health permitted.

A service of worship and celebration will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Westside Baptist Church at 2:00pm with Pastor Steve Johnson officiating, along with Rev. Roland McCraw and Rev. Sammy Lawson. Burial will follow in Blues Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. The Nichols family will receive friends on Thursday from 12:00 until 2:00pm at Westside Baptist Church, or at other times at The Nichols Residence.

The family would like to extend a thank you to Liberty Hospice, especially Tina Leonard and Maria Ferrer Cantu, and to RidgeCrest Retirement for all of the love, care, and support given to Mrs. Nichols and the family. Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the Nichols family. Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.

*Betty sent hundreds of cards for birthdays, sympathy, get well or just because. And if she knew you were sick or had lost a loved one, she’d bake you one of her famous chocolate pies or a loaf of poppy seed bread.

In leiu of flowers, pay it forward by giving a flower to a hospital or nursing home patient, send a card, bake someone a pie, or do something to brighten someone’s day.