Martha Cummins Norris

Martha Cummins Norris passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at her home on December 3, 2016, after a long courageous struggle with Parkinson’s disease. Martha is predeceased by her parents Katherine and Glen Cummins of Birmingham. She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Major General Robert W. Norris, the former Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force and her sister, Patricia Cummins Templin, and her husband, Bill, of Springville, Alabama.

Martha is also survived by her much loved and cherished children, her daughter, Lisha Norris Utt and her husband, Alexander, of Frederick, Maryland, her son Nathan Robert Norris, and his wife Michelle, of Lafayette, Louisiana and five grandchildren, Bobby, Lex and Thomas Utt and William and Katherine Norris.

Martha is a native of Birmingham. She graduated from Phillips High School and attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery. She was a tireless supporter and partner in General Norris’s military career participating for 31 years in numerous volunteer organizations and activities to benefit military families in assignments in the United States and overseas. After General and Mrs. Norris returned to Birmingham Martha volunteered as a member of the St. Vincent’s Hospital Auxiliary. She is a member of the First Methodist Church of Birmingham.

The family would like to thank Dr. Gorman R. Jones and the nurses and staff of the Camellia Medical Group at UAB for their competent and loving care of Martha. A special thanks also to the in home caregivers, Enia Blount, Eve Mostella and Loretta Nicholson for their loyal and loving care.

A private funeral service will be held at a future date at Arlington National Cemetery Washington, D.C. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, 300 Snow Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35209.