Nell Walton Nichols, a retired Registered Nurse and the mother of two daughters, has had a desire to care for others as long as she can remember. Nell worked for 47 years in Healthcare prior to her retirement in 2013 from Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC. Prior to working for Rex 12 years as an Intravenous Nurse, she worked 35 years  at Duke University. During her time nursing, Nell had the opportunity to meet many amazing people who shared the same desire to care for others. She began talking with others about her passion and initially joined another group where she could continue to care for others.

While participating in this group, Nell felt the urge to develop a group that she could call her own. In December, 2000, Nell sat down with her two daughters and a few other close friends and shared her vision to begin a group that would continue to care and share in the community. From this meeting, the organization now known as FOCUS was born. FOCUS stands for Family, Opportunity, Community, Unity and Sharing. Today, Nell, along with 21 other amazing women who share her vision, work together to care and share in Durham, NC and surrounding communities. Through this wonderful organization called FOCUS, we are able to do this. 

​

​