Tina Marie Nichols-Waller

Tina Marie Nichols-Waller passed away in the comfort of her home on Friday, July 11, 2025 in Junction City.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025 from 5pm-7pm at Johnson and Mass-Hinitt Funeral Home. The funeral service will begin at 11:am on Saturday, July, 26, 2025 at Second Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will take place on Tuesday, July 29 at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery in Manhattan.

Tina Marie Nichols-Waller, the beloved daughter of the late Raymond Agusta Nichols, Sr. & Dorothy Jean Marks-Nichols-Bragg, was born in Dumas, Arkansas on August 30, 1961.

Tina Grew up in a military family, living in Vicenza, Italy; Ft. Sill, Oklahoma; Dumas, Arkansas; Gould Arkansas; and stationing in Ft. Riley, Kansas. Later, she moved to Junction City, KS with her Mother and Siblings, while her Father (Raymond) continued to serve his last military years in Germany.

Tina grew up here, in Junction City, Kansas, attending Junction City Junior High School and graduating from Junction City High School in 1979. Tina was always scholarly and she knew from six years old that she wanted to help people. She attended The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, where she began that journey to professionally help and serve people. After her first year in school, Tina transferred her credits to Kansas State University in Manhattan, so she could be closer to family. It is here, where she completed her collegial studies and graduated with her Master’s degree in Social Sciences!

Tina's next step was to get professional employment and she did that with the Social Rehabilitation Services. Her initial training was completed in Anthony, Kansas where she learned the ins and outs of the profession. Once that step was completed, she was assigned back to the Junction City office where she worked the remainder of her career and retired. She built and grew her skill set in social services, utilizing her amazing communication skills, love and desire for community and compassion for people. Tina was able to build an amazing career as a Social Worker, showing the hurt, struggling, and needy love and compassion.

Accepting Christ at a young age, Tina spent a lot of time fellowshipping with other believers. She was a Member of Second Missionary Baptist Church, serving in Mission Groups, the Matrons Ministry, Mass Choir, and the Singles Ministry. She also assisted her mother (Dorothy Bragg) in administering the Sunbeams at SMBC and served with her Mom in the State Sunbeam Ministry. She participated in Bible Studies, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Baptist Training Union (BTU) and she was Secretary for the Western Baptist Bible College as well as a member of the State Congress of Christian Education.

In 1979, Tina and Arthur Ray Brooks, were gifted with a son, Anthony Stephen Nichols. She adored Anthony and worked very hard to provide him a comfortable life.

Tina married Rev. Sherman L. Waller in 1990 and later divorced, but after 19 years of repair and preparation they remarried in 2012.

Tina was an avid reader and learner. Where most people liked to watch movies, Tina enjoyed a nice book. She frequently helped people with their open projects and any type of mental work. She could study any subject quickly and jump in to help.

Tina was overall a very Intelligent, Thoughtful, Helpful, Engaging Friend, and Sibling. She would go out of her way to help you and always had Great advice. If things didn't go well, she was always right there with a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, and a heart to understand. She was a trooper and hung in through a lot of physical hardships. Her back pain severely limited her mobility, causing a lot of trouble for her. Despite that, she always kept a bright bubbly personality and was a source for an uplifting word to friends and family.

In 2015, she met Ricky Foster who immediately started providing her with companionship and love. They spent a ton of time together and he assisted her with her mobility challenges. At her time of passing, they were engaged to be married.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Mother Dorothy Jean Marks-Nichols-Bragg & Father Raymond A Nichols, Sr. Stepfather Elijah Bragg, her first husband Sherman L. Waller, Sisters; Terry L. Rivers-Nichols and Kim Madkins-Bragg, and nephew Elijah Madkins.

Tina is survived by many friends, colleagues and numerous family members. She leaves behind her son Anthony S Nichols, Sr and his 3 children; Anthony Stephen Nichols Jr, Amari Sevante Nichols and Ziona Pearl Oden-Nichols. She also leaves three brothers and their offspring: Kirt D Nichols Sr (Janie); Rosalind R Nichols & Kirt D Nichols Jr, Raymond A Nichols Jr, Anabel Y Jordan, Melissa S Vargas, Jesus F Vargas, Luis F Gutierrez; David Bragg Sr, David Bragg Jr. In addition to the surviving siblings and their children, she has a host of other loving Nieces and Nephews, including MiShala Barron (Adam) & Brandisia Nichols. There are many more great nieces and nephews enjoying her legacy.