To Our Presbytery Family:
A memorial service for
Rev. John Harwood Nicolson
will be held at Lakewood Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville on Saturday, March 21, 2020, at 11:00 a.m.
,
followed by a reception in Benz Hall
. The Rev. Joy Laughridge will be officiating. The church address is:
2001 University Blvd. W., Jacksonville
, FL.
The presbytery received word that Rev. Nicolson died on Sunday, March 1, 2020.
John was born on August 19, 1936 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville. His early years were spent on a farm in the “Tiger Hole” community, considered somewhat beyond civilization in those days but now as a “close in” part of Jacksonville. At the age of ten, his family moved to Potter’s Creek and John grew up near the water and among boats on the water. Sailing along the coast of Northeast Florida contributed to his love for God’s beauty and the spirit of adventure that marked his ministry. Another early love was displayed in his childhood collection of snakes, alligators, raccoons and squirrels. John later redirected this love for all God’s creatures to focus on caring for people.
Following graduation from DuPont High School in 1955, John attended the University of Florida to study engineering (the school and career of his father’s dreams). In Gainesville, John became active in a small church where he felt called to the mission field, but he put that decision on hold when he transferred to Nyack College in New York. In 1963 he accepted a call to Brazil to ministry with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. After a year of language school, studying alongside several Presbyterians, John spent four years doing new church development, alongside other Presbyterians, in Brasilia, the new capital of Brazil. Influenced by all those Presbyterians, John felt a need for further education so he returned to the United States and entered Columbia Seminary, and was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in 1971 by Atlanta Presbytery. He became the organizing pastor of the Pilgrimage Presbyterian Church of Norcross in 1971. For the next sixteen years John’s innovative style of ministry, his energetic commitment to pastoral care, and his sincere compassion to anyone in pain or need earned him the deep love and respect of the community.
In 1985, John came home to Jacksonville to serve as pastor of Lakewood Presbyterian Church (where both his parents were members). For sixteen more years, he served in ministry seeking to enable others to live life, and to live it more abundantly with Christ. Rev. Nicolson retired on Dec. 31, 2001, and was named Pastor Emeritus of Lakewood Presbyterian Church effective February 9, 2002. He is remembered fondly as a pastor, counselor and missionary; and for simply living with God’s spirit among us.*
In retirement, Rev. Nicolson continued serving as a Stated Supply pastor with the Middleburg Presbyterian Church for several years.
In life and in death we belong to God. May the grace and peace of our living Lord, who leads us into the fullness of life-resurrected, be with you now and always.
Rev. Chris Lieberman
Relationship Coordination Director
Presbytery of St. Augustine
*Much of this tribute was originally offered by Rev. Thomas L. Are on the occasion of John’s retirement in the Presbytery of St. Augustine.
