Betty Rae Percefull Nichols, 93, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2026, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of faith, family, kindness, and a lifelong love for children.

Betty was born on January 28, 1933, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Ray and Ella Percefull. She grew up near Churchill Downs, and some of her fondest memories throughout her life were of Kentucky and returning to visit her cousins.

One favorite story from her childhood captured the fun and resourceful spirit she carried throughout her life. Growing up near Churchill Downs, Betty noticed other people charging visitors coming to the Kentucky Derby to park at their homes. She went to her mother and said, “Make me a sign!” Her mother made her a “Park Here” sign, and Betty began charging 50 cents for parking. She was only six years old.

Betty was also crowned 9th grade Homecoming Queen, an honor she clearly never forgot. She kept the cardboard and aluminum crown she was given that day for the rest of her life, still having it almost 80 years later. It was one of the many little treasures she held onto through the years and a perfect example of how much she cherished the memories and pieces of her life story.

In 1945, Betty and her family moved to Miami, Florida. It was there, while she was still in middle school, that she met the love of her life, Russ “Buddy” Nichols, at church. The two were married in 1953 and built a beautiful life together until his passing in 2018.

Betty accepted Christ at the age of 10, and her faith remained at the center of her life. She did not simply speak about her faith; she lived it through the way she loved and served others. Throughout her life, she helped lead others to Christ and was an active member of Berea Baptist Church in Dahlonega. She also volunteered with the literacy program at the Lumpkin County Jail, delivered Meals on Wheels, and participated in women’s groups and other ministries.

In 1978, Betty and her family moved to Dahlonega, Georgia. The following year, she opened Dahlonega Day Care, beginning what would become one of the greatest legacies of her life.

To generations of children and families, she became lovingly known as “Mrs. Nichols.”

Betty poured her heart into the children entrusted to her care. Her Christian values were woven into the daycare through its programs and faith-based curriculum, and over the years she helped guide and care for countless children. She successfully operated Dahlonega Day Care until selling the business in 1997, and the daycare continued serving families until 2026.

Her love for others was never limited by whether someone was related by blood. When Jason Davis came to North Georgia from Trinidad for college, Betty and Russ welcomed him into their lives and, in every way that mattered, into their family. He was like a grandson to them. He and his family remained a cherished part of theirs.

For 48 years, Betty lived in her beloved home on Park Street, right beside the daycare. Her dining room window looked out over the daycare playground, and long after she sold the business, she loved sitting there watching the children play and listening to the nearby church bells.

In another fitting chapter to a life devoted to children, Betty eventually sold her Park Street home to the Dahlonega Methodist Church, allowing the church to expand its facilities and create additional space for its youth program. It was a beautiful continuation of the legacy she had spent so many years building in that very place.

Betty had recently moved to Toccoa to live with her daughter, Cyndi, and she loved making and decorating her new home there. She remained remarkably independent throughout her life and continued driving until her move to Toccoa.

She also loved to shop, decorate, and find treasures. She especially loved thrifting, although those who knew her best knew she preferred the much more sophisticated term “boutique-ing.”

Wherever Betty went, there was a good chance her little Yorkie, Chanel, was going too.

Chanel was Betty’s constant companion and little friend for 13 years. She went just about everywhere with her, including, remarkably, the Grand Floridian at Walt Disney World when Betty traveled to Disney at 90 years old. Chanel was more than a pet to Betty. She was her sidekick and a treasured part of her everyday life.

Above all else, Betty’s life revolved around her faith, her family, her friends, and caring for others. She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her positive attitude, her kindness, her generosity, and her ability to always think of others. She was the kind of person who made people feel loved, and that love extended far beyond her own family.

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Russ “Buddy” Nichols, her parents, Ray and Ella Percefull, her sister, Dolores DeLozier, and her son-in-law, Thomas Hammond. She was also preceded in death by many beloved four-legged companions who were truly part of the family, including her little Yorkie and constant sidekick, Chanel. Betty and Russ shared a tremendous love for animals throughout their lives, and her family finds comfort in imagining the two of them reunited with the many animals they loved and cared for over the years.

She is survived by her daughters, Candy Hammond and Cyndi Durham (Rick) her grandchildren, Jason Hammond (Samantha), Kelli Hawkins (Tim), Spencer Durham (Birdie), and Delaney Haskew (Justin), her honorary grandson Jason Davis (Kristi), her great-grandchildren, Ava Hammond, Madison Hawkins, Asher Hammond, Annah Hawkins, her honorary great grand-children Samuel Davis, Micah Davis, and Joshua Davis. She is also survived by many special nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends, and generations of children and families whose lives were touched by “Mrs. Nichols.”

Betty lived 93 years, but the impact of those years cannot be measured simply by time. It can be found in her family, in the children she cared for, in the people she served, in the faith she shared, and in the countless lives that are better because she was part of them.

To many, she will always be Mrs. Nichols.

To her family, she was Mom, Nan, and one of their greatest blessings.

Her gentle spirit, joyful heart, and legacy of loving others well will live on for generations.

Betty’s family will honor her life with a small, private family celebration of life. In keeping with the intimate nature of the gathering, services will be limited to family. The memorial service will be led by Russ DeLozier, (Betty’s nephew). The family is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, memories, and kind words from the many people whose lives Betty touched throughout her 93 years.

It was Mrs. Nichols’ wish to be cremated with no services to be held. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to Dahlonega Methodist Church, continuing Betty’s lifelong legacy of loving and supporting children and youth, or to Berea Baptist Church of Dahlonega.

To share a memory or a condolence with the family, visit Mrs. Nichols’ online guestbook at andersonunderwood.com.

Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, 2068 Highway 19 North Dahlonega, GA 30533