Mary Phyllis Norwood

Phyllis was born on December 11, 1952 to John William “Red” Williamson, son of Charlie Williamson and Allie Shaw Williamson of Duplin County and Emily Brendle Williamson, daughter of John and Martha Brendle of Yadkin County. She was raised in Yadkinville, North Carolina. She was a loving mother and grandmother. She graduated from Forbush High School in 1971. She received her A.A. degree from St. Mary’s Junior College in Raleigh and B.S.B.E. degree from East Carolina University in Greenville. She worked as a Quality Assurance Analyst at Fidelity Investments in RTP, NC. She was a longtime resident of Cary, North Carolina.

Phyllis was a loving mother who spent most of her time caring for her children, her family, and often her children's friends. She loved television, was a beautiful piano player, and grew up singing in the church. After her children left home, she was a fan of karaoke and being able to sing again. She never met a stranger, willing to strike up conversation with anyone, anytime. She was charitable, never passing someone in need without giving, choosing to never judge or question why.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, and her son John Franklin Norwood. She is survived by her loving children, Emily Norwood McGill and Charles Lee McGill of Fuquay-Varina, NC. Thomas Locke Norwood Jr. and Jeremy Lee Harrell of Raleigh, NC. Marianne Starr Norwood Clark and Daniel Robert Clark of Cary, NC. Sister Starr Brendle Williamson and nephew William “Will” Holder of Clayton, NC. Grandchildren Tyler, Michael, and Caroline McGill, Maggie Clark, unofficially adopted grandson EJ Russell, and several cousins.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home on Friday, January 20, 2017.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to United Cerebral Palsy in the name of her son John Norwood, or to a child in your life in need.