Mr. William Peyton Norman, Sr.
HEPHZIBAH, Ga. - Mr. William Peyton Norman, Sr., 87,
peacefully left his earthly home and went to heaven to be with
Jesus on Friday, May 27, 2011.
He was a loving husband for 59 years to his wife, Iris Belle
Albea Norman, who preceded him in death in 2007. He was an
adoring father, grandfather, and great grandfather, affectionately
known as BaBa. William was born in Lincoln County, on June
29, 1923 to the late Peyton Wyatt Norman and the late Mary
Sally Bentley Norman. He was bestowed with the spiritual gifts
of wisdom, courage, and generosity, often saying You can't out
give the Lord. While a college student at Augusta Junior College
(now Augusta College and State University) in Augusta, World
War II began. He enlisted in the U. S Navy rather than being
drafted. The Navy stationed him first in Dearborn, Michigan
where he graduated from the Ford engineering School. There he
met the Thomas Henry Ford and was personally selected by Mr.
Ford to represent the Navy to march in the 1942 Independence
Day Parade. From the Marshall Islands to Okinawa, he served
in the Pacific Theater on the U. S. S. Langley Air Craft
Carrier and survived 11 typhoons and 11 invasions. He was
awarded 11 silver and bronze stars, medals and ribbons for the
American Campaign, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign, the Navy
Unit Commendation, the World War U Victory Medal, the
Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Philippine Presidential
Unit Citation Ribbon. After the war, he finished his education,
graduating from the University of Georgia Farm School. William
was a member of the Hephzibah Baptist Church where he served
as a Trustee. He retired from AAFES, Fort Gordon, Georgia and
delivered the Augusta Chronicle for 40 years. He was a former
co-owner of A & N Trucking Company. He took great pleasure
in gardening, and cattle and tree farming. He loved history and
was a die-hard Lincoln County Red Devil football fan.
Survivors include daughters, Wanda (Alex) Cawthon
of Thomson; Gloria (Nelson) Brooks of Lincolnton; Ellen
(Greg) Richard of Franklin,
Tennessee: and son, William
Peyton Norman, Jr. (Bill) of
Lincolnton; grandchildren:
Julie (Rod) Finnegan of
Colbert, Ga.; Kelly (Jeremy)
Field of Athens; Melanie
(Johnny) Mathews of
Winterville Ga.; Amie (Dale)
Stinson of Franklin, Tennessee;
Jathan (Stacey) Richard of'
Murfreesboro, Tennessee;
Joshua Richard and James
Richard of Franklin, Tennessee;
William Peyton Norman III
(Will) and Dillard Matthew
Norman of Thomson; greatgrandchildren:
Christopher
Finnegan and Olivia Finnegan
of Colbert, Ga.; Wilkes Field
and David Field of Athens;
John Mathews, Sara Beth
Mathews, Madison Mathews,
Hunter Mathews: and
Barbara Ann Mathews, all of
Winterville, Ga.; Cade Stinson,
Blake Stinson, Elliott Stinson,
all of Franklin, Tennessee;
Grace Richard and Jesse Dee
Richard of Murfreesboro,
Tennessee. He is also survived
by a sister, Frances Norman Bryan of Lincolnton, and numerous
nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife he was preceded in death by a grandson,
Marvin Dillard Richard (Dee) and by a brother, Clarence Edward
Norman, Sr.
Funeral services were held Monday May 30, 2011 at 11 a.m.
at Hephzibah Baptist Church in Lincolnton, with the Rev. Allen
Danner officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jathan Richard, Joshua Richard, James
Richard, Will Norman, Dillard Norman, Glen Bryan, Peyton
Norman, and A. C. McGill.
In lieu of flowers, memorials made be made to Hephzibah
Baptist Church in care of the treasurer, Monica Thurmond, 1254
Thurmond Poss Drive, Lincolnton, Georgia 30817.
The family would like to express gratitude to Dr. Robert
Williams and staff; to Flint Matthews and staff of CSRA Home
Health Care, and to Pearl McCord, Ruby Beard, LaRice McCord,
and Perry Ann Beard for their excellent care of our father.
Web posted on Thursday, June 02, 2011
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