Mrs. Kathryn “Kitty” Louise Summerlin Nickel, age 77, passed peacefully Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at her home, surrounded by family after an extended illness. Mrs. Nickel was a native of Vidalia and attended Tabernacle Baptist Church. Mrs. Nickel worked for many years at the Vidalia Housing Authority. Her greatest joy in life was her family-especially her husband, children, and grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking and preparing her personalized dishes and recipes for many people.

Mrs. Nickel is preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Walter “Bud” John Nickel IV, her son Mark Anthony Nickel, and her granddaughter Amelia Louise Thigpen. Also preceded in death by her parents, Lillian Rhodes Agerton Summerlin and George Bruce Summerlin, her siblings George Thomas “Tom” Summerlin, Mamie Ellen Summerlin Stewart, Charles William “Nicky” Summerlin, and John Jerome “Johnny” Summerlin.

Mrs. Nickel is survived by her two daughters, Lillian Thigpen and her husband Paul of Saint Simons Island and Valerie Tapley of Vidalia; eight grandchildren, Summerlin Nickel Adkins (Mason), Abigail Tapley, Nelson Thigpen, Tanner Nickel, Sarah Thigpen, Emma Tapley, Judd Nickel, and Eva Thigpen.

A graveside memorial service will be at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.  The details will be announced in December.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations to God’s Store House, 2200 Center Drive, Vidalia, GA 30474, or the Salvation Army, PO Box 236, Vidalia, GA 30475.

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.