Funeral services for Mrs. Katrina Althea Nicholls, of Tampa Florida, passed away at St. Joseph Hospital on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, surrounded by her loving family, following a long battle with congestive heart failure. The funeral will be held on Friday, August 3, 2012, 12:00 p.m., at Mt. Calvary Seventh Day Adventist Church, 3920 E. Osborne Ave., Senior Pastor Patrick E. Vincent, officiating. Interment will be in Orange Hill Cemetery. Katrina was born in Tampa, Florida on December 30, 1951 to Alfonso and Althea James. Katrina was preceded in death by her husband, Mervyn Nicholls; sister, Cynthia Hicks; sister-in-law, Eleanora Isles and her grandmother, Selena Thompson. Trina, as she was affectionately known, attended schools in Newark, New Jersey graduating from Arts High School in 1969, when she decided to go to college to major in Elementary Education she chose to attend Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Massachusetts, where she graduated with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. In 1973, several months after graduation, Katrina married Mervyn Nicholls and the newly married couple moved to Newark, New Jersey, where Katrina accepted a teaching job at Trinity Temple SDA Church School. To this union, two children were born, Valencia and David. Wherever you saw Valencia and David, Katrina was usually there training, teaching, protecting and loving her children. She was a devoted wife and a caring mother. Her lifelong professional career was her commitment and dedication in teaching students to excel. She believed in the holistic development of children and she ceased the opportunity, building character and modeling lives in the process for over 32 years in Newark, New Jersey; Orange, New Jersey and Tampa, Florida retiring in 2011 from B. L. Bing Elementary School in the Hillsborough County Public School District. Katrina was known for her smile, her creative abilities and innovative teaching techniques, her happiness and joy in giving to others (only the best), her never ending zeal, enthusiasm and energy to get the job done and done right was contagious. Katrina walked with pep in her step, on the move, helping others to improve. She was a trooper, determined to accomplish the task at hand and to reach her goals, with class, of course. She enjoyed shopping for others and was particular about her appearance. She was a sophisticated lady, always styling from head to toe. Katrina loved people, traveling, swimming, education but especially her Lord, family and friends. Katrina was a faithful member of Mt. Calvary SDA Church in Tampa, Florida until her health began to fail. She was actively involved in Women's Ministries, Sabbath School and the Usher Board. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Valencia Nicholls of Silver Spring, MD; son, David Nicholls of Tampa, FL; granddaughter, Jasmine; parents, Alfonso and Althea James of Tampa, FL; sister, Dr. Lorraine James-Stiggers (Norman) of Lancaster, TX.; brothers, Alfonso James, Jr. (Brenda) of Banning, CA. and Jerome James (Annette) of Glen Ridge, NJ; uncles, Alfonso Thompson (Eleanor) and Jerome James (Katrina) both of Tampa, FL.; one aunt, Willie Lee Williams of Marianna, FL; best friend, Gloria Lawson (Willie) of Columbia, SC; dear friend, Brenda Asberry of Tampa, FL; 11 nieces and 9 nephews; favorite cousins, Vivian Thomas of Miami, FL and Alfonso Thompson, Jr. of Tampa, FL; and a host of relatives and friends. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Friday beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Church.