Julia Elizabeth Helgason, born Oct. 24, 1931, in Vicksburg, passed quietly on Sunday, May 1, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn., at the age of 84.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore and Eva Helgason; her siblings, Charlotte Helgason, Ted Helgason and Gail Loviza; her husband of many years, James A. (Jim) Nicholls; and her granddaughter, Ashley Hearington.

She will live forever in the hearts of her seven children, Pam (Dr. Clark) Lea, Dr. Keith Nicholls, Ruth Beasley, Jill (Paul) Truesdell, Mary Nell (Mike) Hearington, Doris Driscoll and Teddy Nicholls; as well as 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

A lifelong advocate of continuing education, she earned an accounting degree from Memphis State University graduating summa cum laude and worked for many years as an accountant in the corporate headquarters of Holiday Inn before earning a masters degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi.

Following a distinguished career in journalism, she retired from the staff of Dayton Daily News in Dayton, Ohio, in 1993 and later moved to Nashville, where she continued to work as a free lance writer for many publications, including the Vanderbilt Alumni Magazine.

Julia’s family will honor her life at a private burial ceremony in Vicksburg on October 22, 2016.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated in her name to www.blossomanimalrescue.org for special needs pets, or any other charity of your choice.