Norma Jeanne Belonie

Our angel, Norma Jeanne Sorsby Belonie, has entered into the Gates of Heaven... She was a pillar of Texarkana. Her heritage encompassed the spirit of growth and laid the foundation on which Liberty-Eylau was built. Norma's parents helped to establish the Liberty-Eylau community in the 1800's. Her parents, Clara and William G. (Bill) Sorsby were very active leaders in the community. Clara played for the school functions and Eylau Methodist Church until her death in 1969. She was the first elected woman official in Texarkana, serving as Justice of the Peace. W.G. was secretary of the school Board during the combining of the two districts to create the L-E ISD. He served as Justice of the Peace for Texarkana.

Norma attended Eylau School from first through tenth grades. She graduated from Texas High School in 1949. She played the piano for the Eylau Baptist Church when it was first organized. Norma then had to leave to attend Arkansas A&M in Montecello to attain a degree in Education. Norma attributed her academic success (attained a Master's degree and 30 hours post-graduate hours) to her Texarkana education. She received the best training from the best teachers in the world. She did have some others to compare with among fellow teachers in El Paso, Texas; Hanau and Darmstadt, Germany; Key West, Florida; and a short period at Spring Branch in Houston. Norma taught school with ease and confidence, and was always made a leader in every school.

She met her prince of sixty-seven years, Charles Burl Belonie, and traveled throughout the world supporting her military husband. Together, they raised two daughters in a home filled with God, music, laughter, and love. Norma taught for the Department of Defense abroad. Her career lead her to a fantasy world of children of all backgrounds. Each student was her "child" and her heart served their needs. She returned to Texarkana in 1980 and started teaching at the Liberty-Eylau Intermediate School in 1981. She loved teaching and received the Teacher of the Year Award in 1994-95. She received the Who's Who Among American Teachers in 1996, and was recommended for this by students who wrote letters about attending her classes. She was also nominated for a Wilbur Award in the category of working with children. Norma wrote curriculum for many years. She authored an educational manual called, SCORE - Strategies for Scoring on State Tests (published in 1999) which is currently being used in many states. She received the Liberty-Eylau PTA's Life Membership Award (and so did her mother). Her daughters, Jeannie Van Hoose and Charlotte Hueter also received PTA Life Membership Awards. Her love for Wagner, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky inspired her family and students to support the arts. Students of all ages continue to share her stories and remark on how interesting her classes were in school. She retired in 2000. Norma always felt blessed to have been able to teach for forty-nine years and "loved every second" of her career.

Her family was instrumental in establishing and maintaining the high standards we see today in the Texarkana/LEISD. Her brother, Emory Dale Sorsby was a band director at the L-E HS until his death in 1970. Weekly, people approached her to talk about him. His wife, Mary Francis Darby Sorsby, also taught music for a few years in the community. Her brother, Billy D. Sorsby was blessed with a talent for the violin. Her sisters, Claire Marie Williams and Jan Sorsby Reed were educators in Texarkana. They were all members of the Sorsby Sisters and entertained locally for many years.

Norma was a member of the Home Extension Club. She included her daughters and granddaughters in the meetings as four generations of members (her mother, Clara Sorsby, helped to establish the club in the 1950's). Norma worked with Bowie County officials, and partnered with members of Maud, Texarkana, Dalby Springs, and DeKalb. She was also active in the Delta Kappa Gamma teacher's sorority (55 year member), Texarkana Retired Teachers, Women for the Arts, TRAHC, Wednesday Music Club, Texarkana Music Teachers Association, Co-director of the Sacred Heart Singing Angels, Unit One Altar Society, National Poet's Society, L-E Community Education Board, and was a community volunteer. Her family and friends continue to be inspired by her love for the Texarkana community.

Survivors include her husband of sixty-seven years, Charles Burl Belonie, two daughters and sons-in-law, Jeannie and Philip Van Hoose, and Charlotte and John Hueter, two granddaughters, Charli and Johnni Hueter, two sisters, Claire Sorsby Williams and Jan Sorsby Reed and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mass of Christian Burial will be will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church officiated by Rev. Michael Adams. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Catholic Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Monday, January 6, 2020 at East Funeral Home - Moores Lane. All who loved and new her are welcomed to celebrate her life at these services.