Norma Jane Avis Sellers, 75, of Germantown, Tennessee, and formerly of Blytheville, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2019. Born on July 11, 1943, in Caruthersville, Missouri, she grew up with her parents and two brothers on her family’s farm in Pemiscot County. She attended Caruthersville High School where she was the first sophomore to be voted Cotton Blossom Queen. She attended the University of Missouri in Columbia and graduated with a degree in education. While in college, Norma was known for her wonderful smile, humility, beauty, sense of humor and animated personality. She had a knack for doing imitations and impressions, especially of professors on campus with colorful reputations or characters from her favorite movies. During her junior year of college, she was a Top 10 contender for “10 Best Dressed Coeds on Campus”. Although very humble, she was truly a real natural beauty both inside and out.
Following graduation, Mrs. Sellers taught in Caruthersville, Missouri, before moving to Memphis, Tennessee with her husband Dr. Kenneth Dale Sellers. During this time, she also taught school for a number of years, kept busy with her two children, Kristen and Todd, and was involved with St. Ann Church and School. She and her family moved to Blytheville in 1979, where she was active with the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and School, Chapter D PEO and the Blytheville Country Club where she was an active member of “The Ladies of the Club.” In 1992, she moved back to the Memphis area with her husband where she remained engaged socially with friends and family and kept busy later with her four beloved grandchildren.
A devoted, loving and caring wife, sister, mother and grandmother, she is survived by her brother Wayne (Kay) Avis of Nunnelly, Tennessee; her two children: Kristen Sellers of Germantown and Todd (Heather) Sellers of Eads, Tennessee; and her four grandchildren: Abby Sellers, Reese Sellers, Grayson Sellers and Josh Sellers, all of Eads.
Mrs. Sellers was preceded in death by her high school sweetheart and husband of 51 years, Dr. Kenneth Dale Sellers; her parents, William and Dessie Avis, formerly of Caruthersville; her brother William “Billy” Avis, formerly of Caruthersville; and granddaughter, Callahan Grace Sellers.
Her life will be celebrated on Saturday, February 2, 2019. Family will receive friends from 1:00pm to 2:00pm at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Rd, Bartlett, TN. A memorial service will follow at 2pm at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Rd, Bartlett, TN. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations be made to the Mid-South Transplant Foundation at 8001 Centerview Parkway, Suite 302, Cordova, TN 38018 or 1-877-228-5433. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/bartlett-tn.
