It is with deep sorrow that the Murray P. Nicol II and Rachel Nicol O’Neal family announces the loss of their loving mother, Lounette Braswell Nicol. Lounette passed onto her next journey from Decatur, Georgia on November 17, 2024, at the age of 88.
Lounette was born on April 26, 1936, in Smithville, Tennessee. She was the oldest of the three children of Clarence (C. E.) Braswell and Lucille Groom Braswell. Lounette grew up in Smithville, where she was a member of the First Baptist Church and attended public school throughout grades 1-12. She was an incredibly active member of DeKalb County High School, where she served as an officer of numerous organizations, played basketball and was Salutatorian of her 1954 class. With her exceptionally beautiful singing voice, she was, of course, in the Glee Club. Continuing to use her brilliant mind and numerous artistic talents, she graduated from Peabody College (now a part of Vanderbilt University) with a double major in Fine Arts, concentrating in studio drawing, painting and art history. While there she also maintained her studies as an accomplished pianist. Lounette received her Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She continued her studies in art and archaeology art at Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran, the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and at Harvard University in Boston, where her husband Murray Boyd Nicol was an Associate Professor.
Lounette was an accomplished visual artist and teacher. She had studios in Philadelphia, Boston and Atlanta, as well as in Shiraz, Iran and Jerusalem, Jordan. She served as an artist for archaeological expeditions and had showings of her art in Philadelphia, Boston and Atlanta. She was an award-winning special education teacher of art in the DeKalb County School System, where she worked with visually, neurologically and orthopedically challenged students. Additionally, Lounette was a special education art consultant for the High Museum and taught in their teacher training program. Other work for the High Museum included teaching in their Special Audiences programs. Additional teaching positions were held with the Atlanta Youth Development Center, the DeKalb County Summer School Program and the Georgia Department of Human Resources youth services programs. Her work as technical director for installation of the Judy Chicago “Dinner Party” exhibit at the Fox Theater was highly acclaimed. Lounette continued to be a life-long learner by studying multi-media art and by accompanying a group of educators on a Friendship Force exchange to Moscow, Russia. Lounette retired from teaching on July 1, 2000, but never stopped learning. She continued to study and explore new techniques in painting, taking computer courses, playing the piano, singing at the Wieuca Road Baptist Church and the University Heights Methodist Church, and attending the Atlanta Symphony.
Lounette loved and provided for her family selflessly. Precious memories of her extraordinary life will be cherished by her surviving family members-- her children, Murray P. Nicol II and wife Jeannie Goecke Nicol, daughter, Rachel Nicol O’Neal, grandsons Murray Boyd Nicol II and Shane Priddy O’Neal, granddaughters Daisy Priddy O’Neal and Jean O’Neal Nicol, sister Vanissa Braswell Murphy and husband Gordon Murphy, niece Briana Elizabeth Murphy and husband Peter Ferguson, the children of her deceased brother Clarence Carter Braswell and his surviving wife Patsi Cherry Braswell, who include Clarence Carter Braswell II and wife Allison Braswell, Cherry Braswell, and Blair Braswell and wife Kimberly Braswell. Lounette will be missed by all, including the extended Nicol family of her husband, Murray Boyd Nicol, who preceded her in death, and numerous friends from Tennessee to Massachusetts to Georgia. She lived a remarkable life and was a brilliant, talented and loving person.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at Arbor Terrace of Decatur and Capstone Hospice for their kindness and compassionate care.
A grave-side service was held Saturday, November 23, 2024 at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
