been devastating on the family. But Steve Nichol’s sisters,

been devastating on the family. But Steve Nichol’s sisters, Betty Wolfrey and Gladys “Tischa” Richards have rallied to Mrs. Nichol’s side to help.

Mrs. Nichols says, “Sometimes I get phone calls from school. My daughters wonder if mommy is going to be there when they get home.”

“Steve took care of all the holidays. He dressed up as Santa Claus and the Easter bunny. He was the breadmaker. I didn’t do nothing. Now I will continue his tree service and raise our girls the way he wanted them raised.”

The name of the business is Rocky Top Tree Service and Mrs. Nichols worked side by side with her husband on occasion, so she knows how to run the business.

Mrs. Nichols reflects on her husband’s personality, “Steve was the type of person that always smiled, except when he slept, then he snored. He tried to help anyone who needed a hand.”

Helen Cave is one of the Nichols’ neighbors who was at the trial. Now, Cave is at Mrs. Nichols’ side, helping however she can.

Cave recalls watching Steve grow up, “He was a precious person. He was like my own child. I can still hear him cough, because of allergies, when he used to feed the horse. He was the baby of the family.”

Mrs. Nichols adds, “He was still a baby. He was spoiled. He was definitely spoiled. He was the baby.”

The judge, William Shore Robertson, will impose the court sentencing on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000. At that time, the judge could impose up to 38 years of incarceration for Johnson.

It has been over 12 years since a homicide has occurred in Rappahannock County.

In November 1986, Harry Voyd Brown, of Syria, was convicted of the shotgun murder of Aurelious W. Timmons, 54, which occurred on June 7, 1986. Timmons was shot on the front porch of his home on Route 231, 2.2 miles north of the Rappahannock-Madison county line.