Baylor Erdman Nichols

Baylor Nichols, beloved husband and family man, passed away on March 20, 2015. Baylor was perhaps best known for creating art for over 70 years. His art was exhibited throughout the East Coast. In 1968 and 1970 his paintings were chosen in the Virginia Museum Biennium for One-Man Exhibitions at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. He received numerous awards including an Award of Achievement at the Peninsula Fine Arts Juried Exhibition in Newport News in 1986. Baylor was born on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and lived in the state his entire life. After one year at the College of William and Mary, he served in the Navy on the USS Natrona, in the Pacific Arena, during World War II. He went on to receive his BA from James Madison University and a Masters Degree in Art Education at Columbia University. In 1953 Baylor joined the Virginia Department of Education as Supervisor of Visual Arts. He went on to become the Associate Director of Fine Arts working with teachers in all areas of the arts. Baylor retired in 1985 having served Virginia’s educational system for 35 years. Baylor worked with the original committee to create Arts Alive in West Point, VA and served on the Arts Alive Board from 2004 to 2010. He delighted in sharing his talent as a mentor to other artists in the community. Baylor’s paintings are displayed in many private collections in California, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. His paintings are also in the public collections of Ferrum College, Longwood College and Richmond Public Schools. There will be a Celebration of Baylor’s life at the Vincent Funeral Home in West Point, VA on Monday, March 23rd at 2 p.m., immediately followed by a reception at Baylor and Gail’s home. Baylor is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Gail Carter Nichols, and children, Carol Cunningham (George) West Point, Kathryn Giampietro (Fred) CT, Rachel DeAngelis (Gene) NJ and Tom Nichols (Nancy) Chesterfield, step-daughters, Gina Presson FL, Tina Nowak (Mark) PA, Christy Shaughnesy (Mike) PA; grandchildren, Erin Muchowski (Matt) NJ, Ryan Smith (Carla) Richmond, Anthony DeAngelis NJ, Claude Giampietro Alexandria, and Spencer and Marshall Nichols Chesterfield; and six great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Arts Alive, P.O. Box 152, West Point, VA 23181.

Baylor Erdman Nichols

September 25, 1924 - March 20, 2015