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By Tyler Scalf

Star Correspondent

Johnathan and Michelle Nichols recently hosted the first annual “Jackets and Jammies in Memory of James Edward Nichols,” a heartfelt event to honor the memory of their late son, James, by sharing the love and generosity he embodied during his life.

The event, held at Harmony Free Will Baptist Church on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., served as a pick-up store offering jackets and pajamas to families in need. The Nichols family organized the event to continue James’s legacy of kindness by supporting their community and advocating for other children.

The event, made possible by the generous donations of the community, was deemed a success.

“I won’t lie – I was very scared we wouldn’t have a very good turnout for our first year. But let me tell you, not only am I thankful for all who donated and helped set up, I’m also blessed to know that when I don’t feel there’s a way, GOD MAKES A WAY! An unexpected truck showed up at Harmony Free Will Baptist Church with a bunch of blankets and coats, and that goes to show God provides! Thank you all so much from the bottom of our hearts!” said Michelle Nichols.

When asked about the significance of the event, Johnathan Nichols said, “To me, it meant everything because it was an opportunity for us to show what James loved – being able to show that he loved kids, being outdoors, that kind of stuff, just showing the love that he had.”

Michelle Nichols echoed her husband’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of continuing James’s mission of love. “I agreed with Johnathan; it meant everything to us. We were blessed to have James, and we wanted to share the love he would have wanted us to. I wanted to advocate for other children as well and show them the love they deserved,” she said.

The jacket and pajama drive, inspired by the Nichols family’s desire to honor their son’s generous spirit, was open to anyone in need.

“We are already accepting donations for next year,” Michelle Nichols said. “If your child is getting a jacket or jammies for Christmas and you have gently used jackets or jammies, we will gladly take them to add for next year!”