A community is now rallying behind the family of a Nassau County father killed helping others. We first told you about Adam Nichols' death Tuesday.
Nichols owned a tree trimming and landscaping company. He was working to clear tornado debris Saturday when a tree fell on top of him. He has a wife, two sons and twins on the way.
Nichols was also a baseball coach for the Yulee Little League. The Rays "Team Mom" Shelly Beaty said the league will never be the same.
“There are many great coaches up here but there’s always that one that’s the favorite,” said Beaty.
Coach Gene Velardo will miss seeing his friend on the baseball diamond. He loved him like a brother.
“That was one of Adam’s big things if you were on his team, played baseball … you were family,” said Velardo.
Nichols was the type of man who would coach a struggling player, no matter what uniform he had on.
“If a pitcher was having a bad day on the other team, he would go out there, talk to the pitcher, give him some pointers,” said Velardo.
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The Rays invited each player to be a honorary pall bearer at Nichols’ funeral. They were asked to wear their jerseys.
And there is something else in the works.
“Probably when it starts back up in March, they will dedicate the whole season to him. They will do a whole ceremony and then they will do a whole dedication,” said Beaty
The league plans to take good care of his two sons, who are also growing up playing baseball.
“Those two kids just gained a whole lot of aunts and uncles,” said Velardo.
Funeral services will be held this Saturday at First Baptist Church of Fernandina Beach at 3 p.m.
If you want to help the Nichols family, click here
Visit the Yulee Little League Facebook page for updates on how the league plans on honoring their coach.
Cox Media Group
