Mary "Ellen" Nichols Forester

Mary “Ellen” Nichols Forester was born May 28, 1947 in Louisville, Mississippi to the late James F. Nichols and Deloris Crowson Nichols. Ellen graduated from Louisville High School and attended Gilfoy School of Nursing and Hinds Junior College. Ellen is preceded in death by husband, Rev. Norvin E. Forester, Jr. whom she loved with all of her heart. She and Norvin served the Lord in churches for all of their married lives of 53 years.

Ellen loved to sing and was in the youth choir of First Baptist Church, Louisville, MS while growing up. She served alongside her husband in the capacity of Music Director at First Baptist Church, Maxton, NC and McDonald Baptist Church, Rockingham, NC. Ellen and Norvin were members of First Baptist Church, Rockingham, NC where both of them sang in the choir and worshipped the Lord. Ellen worked at Robeson County Schools, Lumberton, for eight years and worked at Scotland County Schools in Laurinburg for twenty-three years. She loved people and especially the Exceptional Children’s Department where she served as Administrative Assistant. She was a “Fighting Scot” through and through.

Along with her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her sister, Frankie Patrick. 

Ellen and Norvin are survived by three sons who have blessed them in so many ways; Lt. Norvin Laird Forester and wife Amy Forester, Rev. William Jamieson “Jamie” Forester and wife Tracey of Savannah, Tennessee, and Richard “Randy” Forester and wife, Amanda of Lumberton. Her favorite name “MeMe” was used by her grandchildren, Taylor Forester of the US Marine Corp, Kelsey Forester, Brooklynn Forester, Destinee Forester, “Will” Forester, Andrew Forester, and Drake Martin.  Ellen also leaves her sister-in-law, Dorothy Criddle; brother-in-law, Wayne Patrick; a niece and two nephew’s all of Mississippi.

One of the requests Ellen leaves is this: Serve the Lord with Gladness, come before His Presence with Singing and Know Ye that the Lord is God. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.

The memorial services celebrating her life will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the First Baptist Church of Rockingham.   The family will have a time of visitation prior to the service from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Church.     A private interment will be held at a later date. 

Memorial donations are requested to be given to the Richmond County Hospice, Inc.,1119 N US Hwy 1, Rockingham, NC  28379 or the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK  73123

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