Cephas J. Nicholas, 82, of Tornado, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, February 14, 2022, at his nephew’s home.
Cephas retired from WV Steel, where he was affectionately known as “Tater Bug”. He was also a former shoe salesman, truck driver, and schoolteacher. He created a gospel group called Harbor Lights, which became his beloved Christian Echoes in the early 1970’s. Cephas was a deacon at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and drove the church bus. He would literally drive anywhere to pick someone up to attend church. It didn’t matter how far away they lived. He never had children of his own, but many of those bus kids called him popaw. He was there for them whether they needed a ride to church, work, or summer trips to the pool.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Lillian Nicholas; wife, Irene Miller Nicholas; and brother, Dennis Ray Nicholas.
Cephas is survived by his nephew & caregiver, Wayne & Rebecca Nicholas of Tornado; great nephew & caregiver, Steven & Alysia Nicholas of Logan; nephew, Brian & Kim Nicholas and their children Carson, Carter & Cara of Michigan; niece, Paula Fleck and her children Ashley Adkins and Allyson Fleck of Florida; special cousin/sister Linda Maines of Tennessee.
Funeral service organized by Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah yizkor services will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 19, 2022, at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek with Pastor Craig Gillenwater officiating. Burial will follow at Orchard Hills, Yawkey. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Bus Ministry or Youth Ministry, PO Box 315, Tornado, WV 25202.
Special thanks to his Hospice workers, Stacey Jarrett, Andrea Adkins, & Pete Thompson.
We are going to miss Cephas so much at Pleasant Hill. He was a great man and servant for the Lord. To God be the Glory for Cephas fulfilling the call that God gave him. He was a deacon, bus driver, musician, and many other things. He was dedicated, and he was always present for any church events. We would have work parties, and I remember Cephas would show up even if he couldn’t do much physically. Cephas especially loved the youth, and he would make sure the kids were taken care of. Even in his physical limitations, he would go to church camp and help. His other love was music. I have memories from my childhood of Cephas singing and playing. Then as an adult, I was able to enjoy his music once again when we came to Pleasant Hill. Now he is singing praises of Jesus in Heaven. We will miss him, but I’m thankful for his homecoming in Heaven. He doesn’t have to worry about any physical limitations any more.
Sure gonna miss his singing and playing at the church. Most of all gonna miss the phone calls asking who is going to church on the bus. He had such a heart for teens.
my heart hurts. in the time i knew cephas he was always considered the pawpaw i never had. we would go driving around all over the place . not even church related we would spend all kinds of time together. i loved cephas as a grandfather of mine considering i never got to have time with mine and he treated me as his own. he guided me in many ways and didn’t hesitate to call me out if he had a feeling i was doing something wrong. i still haven’t even began to accept that he’s gone. but he is up there with his brother and wife happier than ever.