Mary Etta Hall Norford Mills

Our sweet Momma, Mary Etta Hall Norford Mills peacefully entered eternal rest on February 6, 2026 at the Laurels of Charlottesville. Born on May 1, 1938, Mary was the eldest daughter of the late, Charles L Hall Sr. and Doris Hildebrand Hall and the wife of the late Walter Roy “Bear” Mills.

Left to cherish Mary’s memory are her children: Charles “Lynn” Norford (Rhonda), Jeffrey Allen Norford, Doris “DV” Oliphant, and James “Todd” Norford (Lena); her grandchildren: Cory Oliphant (Brittnee), Nicholas Oliphant, Mikayla Oliphant, Elijah “Eli” Norford, Colby “Gage” Norford, Justin Dudley (Cheyenne), and Amber Norford ; her great-grandchildren: Charlotte Maelyn “Charlie” Dudley, Wylder James Ryan Dudley, Paisley Jo Rae Dudley and McKinsleigh Rayne Falls.

She is also survived by her brothers , Chuck Hall (Lori) and David “Dinky” Hall (Pat) her sisters, Betty Jarman and Charlotte Smith (Jimmy) as well as a host of nieces and nephews; her bonus grandsons, Chad and Jarred Snow; and her bonus daughter, Tonya Ann Norford Morris (George).

Mary was also welcomed into everlasting peace by her first husband, James Lynwood “Jimmy” Norford Jr., daughter-in-law, Kathy “ Kat” Norford and son-in-law, Robert “Sonny” Oliphant .

Mary was born and raised in Charlottesville and graduated from Lane High School with the Class of 1955. During her senior year, she sang “Sincerely” at the Senior Follies . Early in her career, Mary worked as a telephone operator for the phone company and later as a proofreader for the Michie Company.

She met her first husband, Jimmy Norford, and they were married on November 6, 1959. In December 1960, Mary welcomed the first of her four children. She devoted herself to being a stay-at-home mother and lovingly cared for several children in her neighborhood. In the late 1960s, she also worked in housekeeping at the Baptist Children’s Home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In 1974, Mary met her second husband, Roy Mills, and they were married in October 1976. After raising her children, Mary spent her later years working in laundry and housekeeping at Howard Johnson’s Hotel, The Boar’s Head Inn, and Farmington Country Club, where she concluded her career in 2002. She will be remembered as dedicated and hardworking.

Mary loved her frappuccinos and milkshakes, as well as arts and crafts, bingo, word searches, NASCAR, and westerns. In her younger years, she especially enjoyed dancing, singing, and attending concerts, as she always had a deep love for country music. In her final moments, her radio was playing by her bedside as she passed peacefully.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to The Laurels of Charlottesville for their compassionate care and support over the past nine and a half years.

Mary has been entrusted to Teague Funeral Home 2260 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA where Family and friends will be received on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Teague Chapel on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., with interment to follow at Holly Memorial Gardens.