Doris Marilyn Nicholas, 73, of Morgantown, passed away Jan. 8, 2021, at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital. She was born Dec. 25, 1947, in Pembroke Parish, Bermuda, the daughter of the late Phillip Leroy Tucker and Phyllis Gwendolyn (nee Dillas) Tucker.
Doris attended boarding school in Canada, earned her BSW at WVU along with her master of social work (MSW) and doctorate in education (Ed.D). Doris worked on the Anti-Racism Board at WVU and was a diversity recruiter. She was instrumental in the development of the first Medical Ethics Committee at J.W. Ruby Memorial and an advocate for racial inclusion and diversity. She also opened the first women’s home for victims of domestic violence in the area.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years Robert “Bobby” Nicholas; children, Allan Bean and his wife Kathy Bean, their children Kaitlyn and Cameron Gyorko, Robert Nicholas Jr. and his wife, Milena, Susan Nicholas, Ryan Nicholas and Trevor Nicholas and his wife Sumie; seven grandchildren: Alexa Bean, Adrianna Bean, Isaiah Bean, Blake Nicholas, Hana Nicholas, Tucker Nicholas and Wolf Mchezaji; niece, Cymone Sims; and many other nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Janet Gwendolyn Tucker and her brother, William Tucker.
Family and friends will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown from 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, although guests are invited to come visit, it is required, per the governor and CDC pandemic guidelines, that all visitors wear face masks and practice social distancing.
Funeral Services will be held privately with Pastor Junius Lewis officiating and in coordination with Pastor Mike Estep on Jan. 13. Burial will follow at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens. Although the services are private, friends may witness the service live on the Suncrest United Methodist Church Facebook page at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dr. Nicholas may be made to the WVU School of Social Work Scholarship Fund at https://give.wvu.edu/ecas-SocialWork where a Doris Nicholas Scholarship Fund is being established to forward her efforts toward diversity inclusion.
Condolences:
www.hastingsfuneralhome.com
