Nicki Cortright

Nicki Wilde Cortright, 59, of Colonial Heights, passed away on Friday, April 5, 2013. Born in Ashville, NC, Nicki was the wife of 38 years of Kenneth L. "Larry" Cortright, Jr. She was the daughter of Lavada Lovin Wilde and the late Joseph Philip Wilde, as well as the sister of Jeffery Eric Wilde. Goddaughters are Krista Loucks of Fayetteville, NC and Julie Craig of Chesterfield, Va. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Clyde and Valerie Lovin of Gastonia NC, and Elbert and Ellis Wilde of Weaverville, NC. Surviving aunts include Addie Lou Weaver of Weaverville, NC, Pat Lance of Panama City Beach, FL, Luana Queen of Raleigh, NC, as well as numerous cousins. She graduated from Northern High School in Baltimore, MD, and she attended St. Mary's Junior College, and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a major in elementary education. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church where she was Chairman of the Board of the Wesley Children's Center for over twenty years as well as holding other positions in the church. Nicki was a retired Henrico County elementary school teacher with 33 years of service. She was a past member of the Henrico Education Association and a past president of Alpha Delta Kappa Mu Chapter, an international sorority for female educators. Since 1991 she volunteered two weeks each summer to work with Camp Rainbow Connection, a ministry sponsored by the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. The camp is for adults with intellectual disabilities. Nicki's mission in life was reaching, teaching, and changing lives through God's power and presence. Her loving and gentle spirit will be greatly missed by her family and a multitude of friends and students she touched throughout her life. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2013 in Wesley United Methodist Church 3701 Conduit Road Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834, with the Rev. Dr. Deborah Fair, Rev. Thomas Dunkum, and Rev. Michael Davis officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday April 9, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church. Flowers are graciously accepted as well as donations for Camp Rainbow Connection. Checks may be made payable to Virginia Annual Conference Attn: CRC, at P.O. Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA 23058. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory 2033 Boulevard. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com