Gloria Abernethy Norwood

Born in Catawba County on May 7, 1927, she attended Mars Hill College and Wake Forest College. Prior to her marriage she taught in public schools in Caldwell and Alamance Counties

She never actually stopped teaching, though. She was a long time member of Millbrook Baptist Church where she taught adult Sunday school for over 50 years, meticulously preparing her lessons over the course of several days each week. She will always be remembered for the huge number of notes and birthday cards she regularly sent to family and friends.

For many years she created the flower arrangement for the communion table on Sunday mornings. Her love of flowers led to the creation of a business selling cut flowers from her home. With acres of flowers under cultivation, she would be in the fields at dawn every weekday cutting bunches of flowers for the crowd of people who would gather eagerly each day prior to the ten o’clock opening time.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Jack E. Norwood, a son, John Norwood and wife Frances of Raleigh, two daughters, Mary Norwood of Raleigh, and Elizabeth de Sherbinin and husband Michael of Raleigh; seven grandchildren, Joshua Lowry of Morrisville, Rachel Wilson and husband Brian of Garner, Luke Heinsohn and wife Cameron of Raleigh, Sarah Heinsohn of Raleigh, Hollin Norwood of Hillsborough, Clare Norwood of Cincinnati, OH, and Aubin Norwood of Brooklyn, NY; one great-grandchild; two brothers, Lloyd Abernethy of Monroe Township, NJ, and Gene Abernethy of Fuquay Varina; and a sister-in-law, Joan Abernethy, wife of her brother Bob.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Helen Abernethy, a brother, Bob Abernethy, and her youngest son, David Norwood.

Funeral services will be held at Millbrook Baptist Church on Saturday, March 9th at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow at Montlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at 10:00 AM prior to the service in the Fellowship Hall at Millbrook Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.