LANCASTER, SC - Mr. Bradford Walter Nims, Sr., age 92, passed away Monday evening, April 17, 2017. He was born June 15, 1924, in Fort Mill, South Carolina, a son of the late Joseph White Nims and Alice Bradford Nims, and was the husband of Mary Carol Mobley Nims. He is a direct ninth-generation descendant of William Bradford of the Mayflower, and a direct ninth-generation descendant of Godfrey Nims, who arrived in Old Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 1667. He graduated from Lancaster High School and attended Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina. Mr. Nims served our country in the United States Army during World War II and thereafter in the National Guard. During his travels with the military, he visited the Vatican, and had an audience with and was blessed by Pope Pius XII. Mr. Nims retired as Lancaster County Supervisor of School Bus Transportation. A talented and creative builder, he enjoyed woodworking and was an accomplished furniture maker. He was constant in character and friendship, and in all respects was a gentleman. He was a member of First A.R.P. Church of Lancaster.
Mr. Nims loved to spend time with his family, and is survived by his wife of 70 years, whom he married June 16, 1946; two sons, Bradford Walter Nims, Jr., and his wife Linda, of McLean, Virginia, and Joe Nims, and his wife, Sherry, of Lancaster; two daughters, Melinda Tindal, and her husband, Will, of Lancaster, and Denise Hegler, and her husband, Jesse, of Kershaw; nine grandchildren, Elizabeth Harbison (Rob), Conner Tindal (Erin), Tyler Nims, Andrew Nims, Matthew Nims (Julie), David Nims, Michael Nims (Rachel), Anna Blackmon (Justin), and Adam Hegler; ten great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Anne Nims and Jane Brigman, both of Lancaster.
Mr. Nims was predeceased by his brother, Joseph White Nims, Jr., and his sister, Margaret Carmichael.
The Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Mr. Nims will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 22, 2017, at The Chapel of Burgess Funeral Home by Rev. Kyle Sims.
The family will receive friends following the service and, in lieu of flowers, suggest memorial contributions be made to the Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina -Florence, SC, at 2350 W. Lucas Street, Florence, SC 29501.