John Harvey Nicholson, III, 76, of Wadesboro, N.C., passed away peacefully on April 9, 2023, at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center Main in Charlotte with his family at his side.
There will be a memorial service at 12 noon on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at First United Methodist Church, Wadesboro with Rev. Stacey Lundy officiating.
The family will greet friends following the service at a reception in the church fellowship hall.
The burial will be private at Eastview Cemetery in Wadesboro.
John was born in Greenville, NC on August 11, 1946, a son of the late Dr. John Harvey Nicholson, II and Gertrude James May Nicholson. The family moved to Statesville, NC when John was in elementary school, and he graduated from Statesville High School in 1964. He attended the Citadel and graduated with a B.A. in English Literature in 1968 and then earned his J.D. at Wake Forest University School of Law in 1971. He was commissioned as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General Corp of the United States Army and served until 1975. After being honorably discharged, he returned to Statesville to practice law. His interest in business law, not to mention his wife’s family, led him to bring his family to Wadesboro where he resided until his death.
Survivors include his wife, Corinne Little Nicholson, and their children and their families: John Harvey Nicholson, IV, and children Cassidy Dow Nicholson (16) and Zachary Benjamin Nicholson (13) of Greensboro; and Effie Allen Little Nicholson and Colin Byford Glover and their son Matthew Lindell Glover (12) of Lexington, KY.
He is also survived by his five younger siblings and their children and grandchildren: Dr. Bill and Mari Nicholson Earnhardt of Raleigh and their children Anna and Steward McQueen, Nancy Jane and Ryan Cook, William and Lauren Earnhardt, and Heyward Earnhardt; Tipton Nicholson and Nancy Davis of Statesville and their children Brittain and Will Kenny and Peggy Nicholson and Justin Tosco; Richard and Brenda Nicholson of Rock Hill, SC and their children Cora and Steve Waldo and Griffin and Cathy Leigh Nicholson ; Parker and Betty Jo Nicholson of Troutman and their children Thomas and Katherine Nicholson, Ingram and Alex Milam, and Callie and Oliver Cross; and Brent and Nancy Nicholson Bustle of Troutman and their children Dewey and Rachel Bustle, Alex and Jessi Bustle, Henry and Brittney Bustle, and John and Lauren Bustle.
John lost his mother in 1986, but he gained a second mother in 1990 when his father married Frances Scott Nicholson whom John loved deeply. With that union, he also added four more siblings and their families: Anne McElwee Herschler of Statesville; Jack and Mary McElwee Clayton of Raleigh; Estelle McElwee Stinchcomb of Statesville; and Nate and Shelly McElwee of Statesville. John felt truly blessed to be the elder sibling in this wonderful family.
Corinne’s family was also dear to John and her sister and brother and their families also survive; Gary Raymond Richert and Effie Little Richert of Hinsdale, IL, and Charles Lemuel Little, Jr. and Janie Ranson Little of Greenville, SC.
John served the community in his various positions in his church, First United Methodist of Wadesboro, in addition to leadership roles in organizations such as the Anson County Historical Society, Rotary, and Anson County Chamber of Commerce.
The family suggests memorials to First United Methodist Church, 118 E. Morgan Street, Wadesboro, NC 28170 or to the Eastview Cemetery Trust, PO Box 274, Wadesboro, NC 28170.
The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.leavittfh.com