Dorothy Louise Gray Nichols, 96, retired owner and operator of 20 years at Columbia Restaurant and resident of Poplar Estates, died Friday, May 31, 2019 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at two o’clock at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Mike Roberts officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Monday from 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to Grace Church of the Nazarene, 2302 Highland Avenue, Columbia, Tennessee 38401 or Parkway Baptist Church, 1500 Tom J. Hitch Parkway, Columbia, Tennessee 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born September 5, 1922 in Maury County, she was the daughter of the late Sam Gray and the late Beulah Roberts Gray. She married Eugene Nichols who preceded her in April 28, 1963. After retirement, she worked for 25 years at Walmart in ladies wear, which she enjoyed greatly because she loved working with the public and meeting new people. Mrs. Nichols was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She loved spending time with her family, and having everyone over for big family lunches on Sunday after church. Mrs. Nichols was a member of Highland Park Baptist Church. Survivors include her son, Jerry (Virginia) Nichols of Columbia; daughter, Lynda (Butch) Prosser of Columbia; grandchildren, David (Mindy) Nichols, James (Christina) Nichols, Sandy (David) Alderson, Kim (Robert) Shelton; ten great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Dennis Nichols; daughter-in-law, Polly Nichols; six sisters; and a brother. Active pallbearers will be Mason Shelton, Ray Prosser, James Nichols, David Nichols, Mike Anderson, and Andy Anderson. Honorary pallbearers include the employees and friends of Poplar Estates, Dr. Belinda Bart and staff, and the past and present employees of Walmart.