Vivian Nichols Williams, age 95, took the hand of Jesus for her walk to her eternal home in Heaven on March 17, 2026.

Vivian was born in Lakeland, Florida at her family home. Her childhood was filled with “daily love” given out freely to she and her four siblings by her parents Fred and Burgess Nichols. On Easter Sunday 1938, she and her twin sister Miriam walked the aisle at the First Baptist Church of Lakeland, Florida to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. At that moment, she began her life of service by showing God’s love to all of humanity everyday of her life.

As a young person she enjoyed cooking, learning to sew, and singing with her twin sister occasional duets on Sunday mornings at church. One of her fondest memories was the evenings spent on her front porch with family and church friends enjoying an ice cream social during the warm Florida summers. She held her childhood friends close and cherished her moments of playing her clarinet in her high school band. Vivian then attended college at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida and launched her career teaching young children to read. She devoted 37 years of her life teaching all grades to read, excluding 12th grade. Her devotion to her work and contagious smile along with her encouraging words caused her students to both love her and excel at reading.

In the early 1970’s she became an educational pioneer in developing, “The small group learning centers” still modeled in classrooms across America today. Her partnership with the University of Florida test pilot program was such a success because of initiation of progress monitoring within the small group settings. Her personal desire to see the good in each child carried over into her personal life, as well.

She and her husband Harry have made many beautiful memories over the 70 years that they have been married. When asked the secret of life and a long marriage Vivian would always say “Love them often then forgive them even more.” During this time, she has been a wonderful mother to her three children, six grandchildren and her great grandchild. Her dedication, guidance and selfless love that she has poured out on her family will always be cherished. Her love of God, family, church, various pets, gardening, travel, Dulcimer playing and loving on all people is what made all who knew her be glad that they did. The world is a better place because of her testimony of God’s love that emulated through her in every aspect of her life.

She is survived by her husband, Harry G. Williams Sr.; her three children, H. Glen Williams Jr. (Carolyn), Douglas Williams (Teresa), and Janet Hayes; six grandchildren, Elizabeth Isner (Brandon), Jeffrey Hayes, Zachary Willams, Madisson Hayes, Justin Williams (Holly) and Alyssa Williams; and her great grandchild, Mikaela Isner.

A celebration of life service will take place at a later date, after her husband’s passing.