Nickles spent her life helping people of Century

Residents of Century and the surrounding areas are mourning the loss of former town planner Debbie Nickles, who died Monday, Oct. 30, following some long-term medical issues.

Nickles began working for the town of Century in the early 90's under the mayorship of Benny Barnes.

She later continued working independently for the town as the administrator for the State Housing Initiatives Program (SHIP) that is designed to serve very low, low and moderate income families and provides funds to local governments as an incentive to create partnerships that produce and preserve affordable homeownership and multifamily housing through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). She worked diligently to help residents in Century with low to moderate incomes repair, renovate and even replace their homes.

Nickles also spear headed the development Century's current Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), established in 2018, necessary in the interest of the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the Town in order to eliminate, remedy and prevent conditions of blight, funded by tax increment financing. The balance as of Jan. 1, 2020, was $11,898,284.

Town Clerk Leslie Howington said Nickles' idea to develop the town's CRA was a way to turn the damage caused by the 2016 tornado into a positive thing for Century.

Century resident Helen Mincey, who was on the housing board with Nickles, said she knew Nickles since around 1994, and the two became close friends over the past few decades. Mincey said she called Nickles on the phone last Thursday, the last time she would have the chance to speak to her friend.

"I got to know Debbie when she came to Century to work on the houses," said Mincey. "She had done quite a few houses here. A lady down the street who is deceased now, had a chimney that was falling down in the kitchen."

Mincey said she went to Nickles and talked for the lady, and Nickles built her a house.

"She tore down the old house and have her a new house," said Mincey.

Mincey said she did the same thing for another Century resident, both senior citizens, and that Nickles worked to help them live better.

"Some of the houses she just did renovations on," said Mincey. "If I told her about somebody, how bad it was, she would reach out to help someone. Therefore, she had a great impact on Century. And she believed in helping people who were down and out. If you needed help, she would reach out there and help you."

Nickles worked for the town under the mayorships of six mayors in Century.

"She is definitely one who will be missed," said former Mayor Freddie Wayne McCall, Sr.

"She loved Century and she kept her hands on the purse strings anywhere and everywhere that she could. She was always great for Century, she did a lot of good things for Century and she will be missed."

Nickles' service will be in December to accommodate family members unable to attend currently. It will be published in the Tri City Ledger when the information is available.