Norma Jean Burkett Hart

She was born to J. B. and Irene Burkett on February 26, 1929. Ms. Hart lived most of her life in Chattanooga, starting her career with Southern Bell Telephone Company in 1945 and retiring forty-six years later, with the same company that was renamed AT&T. She has also lived in Huntsville, Alabama and Cleveland, Tennessee.

She had many interests in her life, and one that held priority and much pleasure was traveling. She had vacationed in several European countries, the Middle East including Jerusalem, Israel, and four of the South Sea Islands. Her travels at home took her to thirty-seven states including Alaska and Hawaii. Canada was also on her itinerary one summer. She wanted to visit as much of the world and meet as many of God’s people as possible.

She was a lover of fashions and did some modeling in her younger years of life. She was a very busy lady and had many irons in the fire, as a member of Beta Signa Phi, the Alfa Zeta Chapter, and working with the ladies auxiliary, and her day to day office hours, was very important to her. With all her other interests, Ms. Hart was also a vocalist. She sang for many gatherings. A person was in for a treat if in attendance of one of the affairs by her beautiful operatic voice.

She also worked in the elections in Cleveland, Tennessee and was a member of Tennessee Telephone company pioneers. She was a member of Westwood Baptist Church in Cleveland, Tennessee and adopted a daughter 2 ½ years old from South Korea in 1973. In her later years, Ms. Hart moved back to Chattanooga, Tennessee and became a member of City Church of Chattanooga. Ms. Hart lived her last 4 1/2 years of life with her daughter, son-n-law, and granddaughter and supported North Red Bank Baptist church by her prayers and tithes.

Mrs. Hart was also a member of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews and had been a regular supporter for twenty-three years. She was so excited to be a part of helping the Jewish people return to their homeland, as the Bible describes, and of their many other needs.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, James A. and Thomas R. Burkett, and one sister, Mrs. Billie Sue Alley and parents.

She leaves to be remembered of many happy times by sister, Mrs. Bobbie J. Lovelace, sister-n-law, Beverly Phiel Burkett, daughter, Trena Rae (Michael) Lawson, granddaughter, Anna Irene Lawson, and several nieces and nephews.

In these extraordinary times, there will be no formal funeral scheduled.

In lieu of flowers, prayers and a donation to one of her local charities, Chattanooga Rescue Missions, are requested by her family. She will be laid to rest at White Oak Cemetery waiting for her Lord Savior, Jesus Christ’s second coming.

We respectfully request that all current mandates set forth by the CDC and the Hamilton County Health Department be adhered to. This includes “social distancing” and wearing masks at all times while on the premises.

Arrangements are under the care of Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist East Chapel, 404 South Moore Rd. East Ridge, TN 37412.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com