Barbara Anne Nicklin

Barbara Anne Nicklin, 86, of Snug Harbor, NC passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 surrounded by her daughters and best friend. A former teacher and human rights activist, she was an amazing, creative, funny, artistic matriarch who could tell a story like no other, dance in the rain even when it was thundering, sing her heart out with the joy of angels, and make everyone around her know they were loved and special.

She is survived by her daughters Rebecca King (husband Craig) of Canisteo, NY and Barbara “B.J.” Nicklin, (husband Jay Stotzky) of Hertford, NC, grandchildren Andrew (wife Eryn, sons Arthur and Alistair, daughter Abagail), Elizabeth (husband Edgar Reynosa, son Daniel) and Sarah King and Dante Nicklin (husband Ahmad Algondbany), four great grandchildren, and her sister Cynthia Scott. She was preceded in passing by her son Robert “Bubba” Nicklin, and her husband of nearly 63 years, Joseph “Papa Joe” Nicklin, who passed earlier this year.

Born February 17, 1940 in Oil City, PA, Barbara began her journey at Sage Run Grade School and graduated from Cranberry High School. She then attended Clarion University in Clarion, PA, to study education, graduating in 1962 as an English, Speech and Drama educator. Barbara taught at Oil City Middle School and Oil City High School in Oil City, PA, as well as Cleveland Middle School in Cleveland, OH, finishing her career at Oswego High School in Oswego, NY. After retiring from teaching, Barbara worked as a real estate agent for Roger Thesier Real Estate for three years, also in Oswego.

She met and married her husband Joseph Nicklin in 1963 where they started an anything but ordinary life. During their nearly 63 years together, they lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Virginia, Brazil, and South Africa, eventually retiring in Snug Harbor, NC, 25 years ago. They traveled to five continents and nearly 30 countries, making deep lifelong friends along the way.

Her family was her heart and soul and sinew. She and her husband raised three children, and spent months as a family sailing the waters of Lake Ontario on their beloved sailboat Grumpy. She fostered her children’s passions and continued fueling the imagination of her grandchildren. Summers at Grandma’s were filled with swimming, boating, fishing, every art medium imaginable to explore, science experiments, appreciation for nature and wildlife, and many days of playing cards and board games. There was music, laughter, and an abundance of love and creativity in every corner of her home.

Barbara was a presence in any room she entered and used her voice to be an activist for many causes close to her heart. Her background teaching in the inner city, being a life long patron of the arts, actress and drama teacher herself, and her world travels shaped her life. She was fiercely pro-education, was a life-long human rights advocate being active in the civil rights movement, the women’s movement, and a staunch ally and activist of the LGBTQ+ community.

In retirement, she stayed active in her community, organizing voter registration drives in Perquimans county and meet the candidate nights. She served two terms as President of the Snug Harbor Civic League and remained a member of the Sunshine committee for years after her terms ended. She was also a member of the local Red Hats Chapter and community bridge club for over a decade. Along with her husband, she was a 30+ year advocate and supporter for Lee’s Friends in Norfolk, VA, and other cancer charities in Hampton Roads including Bubba’s Angels, the 501(c)3 charity they established in honor of their son, Robert “Bubba” Nicklin, for cancer patients and their families.

A Celebration of Life will will be held at a later date in Spring 2027 with the assistance of Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lee’s Friends at https://leesfriends.org/ (https://leesfriends.org/)