Mrs. Bertha Elizabeth Hager Nicholson, 98, departed her South Market Street home of 79 years on Tuesday, June 19, 20i2. Born near Ijamsville, on January 1, 1914, she was the daughter of the late Christopher Hager and Bessie Wachter Hager Covell. She had been the wife of the late Forney Nicholson and now is survived by a daughter, Ruth Nicholson, of Frederick, a nephew, Charles Covell of Walkersville, and a beloved and devoted cousin, Delores Slagle Keefer, of Perry Hall. She was preceded in death by a brother, Alvie Covell. Bertha placed great value on simplicity, humility, and faith which is how she lived her life. She was an avid reader and traveled much in her younger years. She was still making grape jelly from the family vine and quilted tops at age 95. She was educated in the Frederick County School System and Strayers Business School. She began her education in a one room school house in Ijamsville, where as a precocious child, skipped the second and fourth grades. She graduated from the Frederick High School (Elm Street) in 1931. She had a 36 year working career at the Ox Fiber Brush Company, where she began as a secretary/ stenographer and held many other positions along the way, the last being customer service representative of sales. She was sent by the company to Tennessee and Massachusetts to help set up the office and plant as the company closed the doors to the Frederick operation. Bertha had a faith which was deep and personal. She was a lifelong member of the Frederick Church of the Brethren and was baptized in a little creek running through the Mercer farm near Harmony Grove in 1937 by Rev. Robert Sherfy. She was very active within the church which continued until she was 93. Her activeness began as the business manager of the 50th Anniversary Publication of the church history published in 1936 by the young people. She served on many boards and committees multiple times. She held the offices of the Church Clerk, Delegate to the regional and national conferences, and Church Financial Secretary; the last time she held that office was for 25 consecutive years in which the church honored her service with a special recognition and plaque and the title of the Financial Secretary Emeritus, the second person in the Frederick church history to receive such a title. She was a charter member of the Home builders Class, treasurer of the Women's Guild, and was active for a period of time with the church Women United. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m., on Sunday, June 24, 2012, at the Frederick Church of the Brethren. Funeral services will be held at the church at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, June 25, 2012, with Rev. Dr. Paul Mundey, officiating. Private interment will be held in the Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick. Arrangements are with the Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick. In lieu of flowers anyone wishing to offer a remembr
