Mr. William Peyton Norman, Sr.
LINCOLNTON, 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
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
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 USS 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; great-grandchildren: 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 09, 2011
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