Norma Marie Hutson

Norma was born on August 28, 1929 in Florence, Alabama to the late James Franklin ‘Frank’ and Maggie Lou Dorminey Richards. She had one brother, Jennings Phipps Richards.

‘Normarie’, as she was known by her close relatives, moved to Miami, Florida as a child where her father had a landscaping and paving business. She attended Miami Senior High and was active in the band, playing the Glockenspiel and other instruments. She had a horse and competed in dressage, winning first place at the age of 15.

After high school, she worked as bookkeeper in her father’s landscaping company. She enjoyed bowling and competed on several teams.

After moving her family to Chiefland Florida in the early 1960’s, she was an active member of Hardeetown Baptist Church. Norma directed the Youth Group choir and served as a Sunday school teacher. She professed faith in Christ and was not ashamed of the gospel. Once during a service, when the pastor asked the congregation to get up and stand next to someone that had a strong influence on their faith life, a group of youth got up and stood by Ms Norma. The best word to describe her personality would be ‘colorful’. She had a quick wit and a sharp sense of humor.

She had a passion for her community and worked as a radio dispatcher for the police department, a clerk for the city of Chiefland and then as accountant for the Levy County school board. Norma served as City Commissioner for the City of Chiefland and was the first woman to assume that role.

She is survived by her four children: Donald Glenn Gorday Jr of Redwood City California; Louann Gentry and her husband Ike of Branford Florida; Darlene Neudecker and her husband Terry of Orlando Florida; and Johnny Hutson and his wife Jeanne of Cary North Carolina; nine grandchildren and two great-grand-children.

She is preceded in death by her father, Frank, her mother Maggie Lou, and her brother Jennings, as well as a daughter, Denise Shannon Parker.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, February 3, 2017 at Colonial Baptist Church, 6051 Tryon Rd, Cary, NC 27518 in the Parlor.

Arrangements for the Hutson family are under the care of Brown-Wynne Cary. Online condolences may be made at www.brownwynnecary.com.