David Nichols

Former Iuka mayor David Nichols died last Thursday, March 26th at his home.

David, 66, was diagnosed with a brain tumor two years ago, but was in remission. He fought hard and spent every day making the most of time with his family, beloved wife Sandra and friends.

Nichols was mayor for three terms in the 1990s and under his tenure, Iuka and the surrounding area saw some key growth and civic improvements we still enjoy today.

"David’s love for the City of Iuka and Tishomingo County was secondary only to his family and friends,” says former 1st District U.S. Congressman and Booneville businessman Travis Childers, a longtime friend. David was on the Yellow Creek Port Authority Board with Childers for years.

"I recall he brought a fresh perspective (a businessman with a public servant’s heart) to the Yellow Creek Port Board during his tenure there as a member. David believed public and private partnerships were good for the community by creating jobs, but moreover by improving the quality of life of the folks he cared about the most. He was instrumental in securing anchor tenants to the Port which are employing hundreds of people today. David Nichols left a positive, permanent mark on this region.”

In his hometown of Iuka, he played a large part in many institutions we still enjoy every day. He played a large part in getting the new Iuka Hospital, expanding Jay Bird Park and the Iuka Public Library, the development of the Iuka Baseball and Girls’ Softball fields, and the renovation of Iuka City Hall after it burned. He was a member of Iuka Rotary, the Iuka Battlefield Commission, was on the board of the Old Courthouse Museum, and coached softball for years.

Probably the civic achievement of which he was most proud was his part in the Indian Creek Watershed project, which included a combination of flood mitigation measures that now prevent Mineral Springs Park and the surrounding homes from being inundated by floods from the Indian Creek that runs beside the Park. It was a multi-million-dollar federally funded effort by a committee of local leaders and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), with the support of the City under Nichol’s leadership. The iconic covered bridge is the most visible part we see every day, but the project also widened Indian Creek, and replaced other key bridges.

Nichols began his public accounting practice in 1979, and it occupied one of the historic homes on Eastport Street near Downtown. He graduated Iuka High School in 1972; The University of North Alabama in 1976 and had his master’s degree in accounting.

Through his years as a businessman and public servant, he was first and foremost a devoted father whose top priority was nurturing and educating his daughters, Dr. Jessica S. Jensen, M.D., and Dr. Jennifer Tucker, D.V.M.

David had a lifelong passion for learning and enjoyed studying history and politics in his free time. He especially enjoyed discussing these topics with others. His favorite pastime was boating on Bear Creek with family and friends. Those that knew David knew he had a huge heart and genuinely cared about the well-being of all those he met.

David is survived by his devoted wife Sandra Cornelius Nichols; daughters Jessica Nichols Jensen, and husband Jae, of Iuka, and Jennifer Nichols Tucker, and husband Billy Tucker, of Burnsville; a special son, Michael Jungholt of Munich, Germany who started as a foreign exchange student and became like a son to David,  two brothers, Paul Nichols, and wife Pat, and Tommy Nichols and wife, Carol; a sister, Donna Nichols; step-children Lee Cornelius, Shana Alexander and husband Trey, Erica Hubbard and husband Archie; a grandson Wendell Olen Tucker; and step-grandchildren Kellee Cornelius, Daniel Cornelius, Brooklyn Cornelius, Haston Alexander, Aubrey Alexander, Warren Jackson Hubbard, Knox Hubbard and Vivian Hubbard.

He was preceded in death by his parents Mamie Leo Broughton and Leonard Braxton Nichols.

Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka is in charge of arrangements, and services are on hold until quarantines are over, when the family will invite friends to join them for a Celebration of Life Memorial Service. Pall bearers are Earl Solomon, Harold Lomenick, Steve Jackson, Harold Boothe, Bob Ferguson, Dickie Sparks, Ben Kitchens, Don McNeely, Billy Rainey, and Neil Davis. Nick Phillips will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Iuka.