Raymond Hamilton Norton

Raymond Hamilton Norton, 90, passed away on January 12, 2025, at his home. He built a family and career in Jacksonville, living a life of which he never dreamed because he was too busy working to make it happen.

Ray loved the City of Jacksonville with all his heart. As a little boy growing up in the Northside of Jacksonville, Ray would save his school lunch money to take the bus downtown for days of adventure. Later in life, he would purchase one of the buildings he loved as a child and restore it to its pre-1901Great Fire glory.

Ray’s life was defined by his incredible work ethic which he applied not only in his banking career, but also in his relationships with family, friends, and coworkers, eventually positioning him as Chair of the Downtown Development Authority. He was also a member of the Jacksonville Port Authority Board as well as a leader in other community organizations. As treasurer of the Ed Austin and Jake Godbold mayoral campaigns, he would sit in his beloved orange chair balancing the accounts to the penny.

Ray was a banker’s banker. As a young man counting dimes in the basement of the Barnett Bank, he overheard a conversation about a new bank coming to Jacksonville. That day, during his lunch break, Ray figured out how to call the new bank founder, Roscoe Buttrey, in Nashville, Tennessee. Ray would become one of the founders of State Bank which would later be acquired by SunTrust.

Ray liked to say that he still had the first dime that he had ever earned at the age of 11 when he obtained his first job at a Jacksonville bakery.

Ray was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Gloria Jean Burnsed Norton. Their meeting was love at first sight. To the very end of his life, Ray could describe the yellow dress ensemble Gloria wore the first time he saw her. During that auspicious meeting, Gloria had appeared at the State Bank to apply for a “24-hour loan” so that she could quickly buy and sell a house as an investment. Ray made the decision to not charge Gloria interest that day. They were engaged on their third date and were a force of nature for over 50 years.

Ray was also preceded in death by his parents, George and Virginia Norton, and his brothers, Harvey Norton and Wayne Norton.

He is survived by his children, Raymond Hamilton Norton, Jr., and Virginia Baker Norton, both of Jacksonville. Ray loved his children with his whole being and spent his life making their lives beautiful.

A graveside service for Raymond will be held Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel & Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207.