Obituary for John Jasper Nicholas Jr.
On October 2, 1928, the late John Jasper and Mary Susan Nicholas, Sr. welcomed John Jasper Jr. into the family with love and care in a Christian home. He attended worship services, and Sunday School and loved going with his father to prayer meetings at the Chapel. John enjoyed going fishing with his cousins, having fun with his siblings and neighbor’s children. He loved going to Grandma Carrie’s home helping her with chores, going to the store and picking up her mail. He attended public school in Fluvanna County, Virginia.
Early in life, he found another love…Jesus. He was baptized and became a member of Columbia Baptist Church in Columbia, Virginia. In 1946 John moved to Washington, DC for work and continued his education. He also became reacquainted with Dorothy (Lane) Nicholas and the two were married on December 2, 1951. They were married for 54 years until her passing in February 2006.
Rev. Nicholas was a graduate of the Washington Baptist Seminary and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Pacific Western through the collaboration of Howard University. In 1992, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Richard Virginia Seminary.
A passion to serve God and being a natural leader had given Rev. Nicholas a plethora of opportunities to work in the ministry. Early on, he was an ardent worker at First Baptist Church in Washington, DC, and served as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, Superintendent, and B.T.U. Director. During that time, he also served as the Secretary of the General Baptist Deacon’s Association of Washington, DC, and vicinity. In addition, Rev. Nicholas was a certified instructor of the
New Testament awarded by the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc., Christian Education Department.
Rev. Nicholas was called to the Gospel Ministry in April 1969, licensed in July of the same year, and ordained in December 1973. He then became Pastor of the Burrell Memorial Baptist Church in Washington, DC. In 1975, Pastor Nicholas accepted the pastoral position at St. John’s Baptist Church and served for 47 years until his passing.
Based on the vision from God, he established new goals and objectives for the St. John’s Baptist Church. He established the Deacon Family Ministry; instated a New Member Orientation and developed a Stewardship Ministry of tithes, offerings, and gifts for financial support. Under his leadership, an education addition was added to the present structure and a new sanctuary was constructed and completed in 2005. Understanding that we live in a changing society, Pastor Nicholas initiated leadership courses through the Washington Baptist Seminary. Building on the vision of the 23 original founders, Pastor Nicholas had assured that St. John’s remained a beacon of light on the corner of Columbia Pike and Scott Street. He continued to “magnify the name of Jesus” by praying for his church, leading them to a fuller understanding of praise and worship and being a witness of the grace of God.
Pastor Nicholas was a nationally recognized preacher, biblical scholar, and mentor. He was an active leader on local, state, and national issues which needed input from the Christian community. He had served as Moderator of the Northern Virginia Baptist Association and President of the Northern Virginia Minister's Conference, President of the Missionary Baptist Ministers Conference, Washington, D.C., and vicinity and, second Vice President of the Baptist Educational Congress of Washington, D.C. He continued to work in the
Northern Virginia Baptist Association, the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Board, the D.C. Baptist Convention, and the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. He was also a member of the Executive Board Baptist Convention of the District of Columbia, Trustee of the Washington Baptist Seminary, and a Life Member of the NAACP. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors.
Pastor John Jasper Nicholas, Jr. peacefully transitioned on October 29, 2022, at his home with grandson Damon by his side.
Pastor John Jasper Nicholas, Jr. leaves to cherish his memory two sisters, Beatrice Wade and Ann Creasy; daughter-in-law Kristina Nicholas; seven loving and cherished grandchildren; Deborah David (Jeffery), Damon Nicholas, Nickya Robertson (Jeremiah), Brianna, Anthony (Savana), Lillian and Kyler Nicholas; six great-grandchildren: Sean, Jonathan and Jeremiah David; Sa’kyia Nicholas, Priscilla and Vielet Robertson, and three great-great-grandchildren: Austin David, Samuel Gilbert, and Rose Marie David, and soon to be expected Ryan Joy Nicholas, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
His parents Rev. John Jasper and Mary Susan Nicholas, Sr., and Lillian Nicholas; his wife Dorothy Nicholas; sons: John III, Russell Nicholas and Burley Brown; siblings: Mary Julia Morse, Minister David Nicholas, Sr. and Willard Nicholas, and great-grandchild PFC Jeffery Isaiah David preceded him in death.
A Man After God’s Own Heart
Early in life, he found another love…Jesus. He was baptized and became a member of Columbia Baptist Church in Columbia, Virginia. In 1946 John moved to Washington, DC for work and continued his education. He also became reacquainted with Dorothy (Lane) Nicholas and the two were married on December 2, 1951. They were married for 54 years until her passing in February 2006.
Rev. Nicholas was a graduate of the Washington Baptist Seminary and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Pacific Western through the collaboration of Howard University. In 1992, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Richard Virginia Seminary.
A passion to serve God and being a natural leader had given Rev. Nicholas a plethora of opportunities to work in the ministry. Early on, he was an ardent worker at First Baptist Church in Washington, DC, and served as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, Superintendent, and B.T.U. Director. During that time, he also served as the Secretary of the General Baptist Deacon’s Association of Washington, DC, and vicinity. In addition, Rev. Nicholas was a certified instructor of the
New Testament awarded by the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc., Christian Education Department.
Rev. Nicholas was called to the Gospel Ministry in April 1969, licensed in July of the same year, and ordained in December 1973. He then became Pastor of the Burrell Memorial Baptist Church in Washington, DC. In 1975, Pastor Nicholas accepted the pastoral position at St. John’s Baptist Church and served for 47 years until his passing.
Based on the vision from God, he established new goals and objectives for the St. John’s Baptist Church. He established the Deacon Family Ministry; instated a New Member Orientation and developed a Stewardship Ministry of tithes, offerings, and gifts for financial support. Under his leadership, an education addition was added to the present structure and a new sanctuary was constructed and completed in 2005. Understanding that we live in a changing society, Pastor Nicholas initiated leadership courses through the Washington Baptist Seminary. Building on the vision of the 23 original founders, Pastor Nicholas had assured that St. John’s remained a beacon of light on the corner of Columbia Pike and Scott Street. He continued to “magnify the name of Jesus” by praying for his church, leading them to a fuller understanding of praise and worship and being a witness of the grace of God.
Pastor Nicholas was a nationally recognized preacher, biblical scholar, and mentor. He was an active leader on local, state, and national issues which needed input from the Christian community. He had served as Moderator of the Northern Virginia Baptist Association and President of the Northern Virginia Minister's Conference, President of the Missionary Baptist Ministers Conference, Washington, D.C., and vicinity and, second Vice President of the Baptist Educational Congress of Washington, D.C. He continued to work in the
Northern Virginia Baptist Association, the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Board, the D.C. Baptist Convention, and the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. He was also a member of the Executive Board Baptist Convention of the District of Columbia, Trustee of the Washington Baptist Seminary, and a Life Member of the NAACP. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors.
Pastor John Jasper Nicholas, Jr. peacefully transitioned on October 29, 2022, at his home with grandson Damon by his side.
Pastor John Jasper Nicholas, Jr. leaves to cherish his memory two sisters, Beatrice Wade and Ann Creasy; daughter-in-law Kristina Nicholas; seven loving and cherished grandchildren; Deborah David (Jeffery), Damon Nicholas, Nickya Robertson (Jeremiah), Brianna, Anthony (Savana), Lillian and Kyler Nicholas; six great-grandchildren: Sean, Jonathan and Jeremiah David; Sa’kyia Nicholas, Priscilla and Vielet Robertson, and three great-great-grandchildren: Austin David, Samuel Gilbert, and Rose Marie David, and soon to be expected Ryan Joy Nicholas, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
His parents Rev. John Jasper and Mary Susan Nicholas, Sr., and Lillian Nicholas; his wife Dorothy Nicholas; sons: John III, Russell Nicholas and Burley Brown; siblings: Mary Julia Morse, Minister David Nicholas, Sr. and Willard Nicholas, and great-grandchild PFC Jeffery Isaiah David preceded him in death.
A Man After God’s Own Heart