James E. Norman

James E. Norman, 80, of Tommy Norman Ave., Morganton, NC went home to be with his Lord on Monday, February 26, 2007. He was born in Burke Co., NC on January 4, 1927 and was a son of the late Tommy A. and Isabell McDaniel Norman. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by brothers, Charlie, William, Frank, and Mack Norman, and by sisters, Lucy Dale and Gertie Duckworth. Mr. Norman retired from Drexel-Heritage Furnishings after 40 years of service. He loved to farm, hunt, woodwork, and the outdoors. James was a member of South Mountain Baptist Church.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Fern Benton Norman, of the home; their children, Keith Edward Norman and his wife, Sharon, of Morganton, Linda Norman Smith and her husband, Pete, of Myrtle Beach, SC, James Edward Norman, Jr. of Charlotte, and Marty Norman and his wife, Shannon, of McKenney, VA; his sisters, Pearl Copeland and Rudell Burgin, both of Morganton; his grandchildren, Chad D. Norman, Nicole Smith, Jammie Smith Hunter, Devin Baldwin Norman, and Summer Fern Norman; and his faithful companion, Beetle.

The funeral will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, 2007, at Missionary Ridge Baptist Church with the Reverends Jack Moses and Donald Lovelace officiating. Burial will follow at South Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sossoman Funeral Home where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes before the funeral hour. At other times the family will be at the home, 5604 Tommy Norman Ave., Morganton. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Foundation, 6110 Executive Blvd. Suite 101, Rockville, MD 20852-9813.