Norma Jean Haskins-Hennessee was born October 21, 1942 to Mr. Walter Chester Haskins Sr. and Mrs. Winnie Aro Stewart-Haskins in Texarkana, Texas. Her family, part of The Great Migration West, relocated to California before 1946. After first landing in Berkley, California, they relocated to the Central Valley in Wasco, California before ultimately settling in Delano, California. Norma Jean would go on to attend and finish primary and high school in Delano, and then attend Beauty College in Fresno, CA.
Soon after returning home from Fresno, Norma Jean was introduced to her best friend, partner, and the love of her life Mr. John Henry Hennessee by her dear Auntie Ruby. The two were married in October of 1963. To this union, the couple were blessed with three daughters: Sondra De-Nell Hennessee, Kim T. Hennessee, and Jennifer Gale Hennessee. The couple supported one another in every endeavor on a journey for nearly 58 years of endless love, happiness, and precious memories.
Norma Jean was a dynamic, classy woman who lit up rooms with her smile, laughter, and the warmth of her personality. Her thirst for adventure would lead her to live fully and as she pleased. She decorated her home, made clothes, rode motorcycles with her husband, worked in the male dominated agriculture industry as a bookkeeper, alongside her husband on heavy machinery, and even mastered work underneath a welder’s hood… being stylish and dainty all the while.
Norma Jean loved laughter, soul music, being and making things beautiful and to “just go” as she called it. She loved to travel. She loved RV camping at the beach, but treasured most traveling to Phoenix, Arizona to vacation and spend holidays with Auntie Ruby and her favorite cousins: The Lands.
She was serious about her family and many of her good friends inevitably became family. She loved to cook, feed you good food, craft, and dress well. Most everyone she’s met has been affectionately renamed “baby” or “sugar”. If you were fortunate enough to spend time and space in her presence, you have known love and kindness. Even if only briefly, you’ve known what being cared for feels like.
She is preceded in death by her only younger brother Walter Chester Haskins, Jr; beloved maternal Aunt Ruby Lee Littles-Washington, father Walter Chester Haskins, Sr. and mother Winnie A. Stewart-Haskins.
Norma Jean leaves to mourn and cherish her beautiful life, memories, and carry on her legacy:
Her loving husband of nearly 58 years, John H. Hennessee; three daughters, Sondra De-Nell Hennessee-Fackler and Husband Samuel J. Fackler, Kim T. Hennessee-Blaylock, Jennifer Gale Hennessee; four grandchildren, Denise Cristobal-Weems and husband Trelain Levar Weems Sr, Michael Anthony Sumrall and wife Erika Victoria Garcia-Sumrall, Jenette Nicole Gallardo, and Tiffany Ann Blaylock; five great grandchildren, Jaiden DeVon Cristobal, Trelain Levar Weems II, Kari Alexis Hernandez, Bryan Isaiah Ramirez, and Baby Sumrall due in October 2021; one niece Kelly Haskins-Perryman and husband Danny Perryman; one Great-Nephew Jayden Perryman and One Great niece Kaycee Perryman; our Very Dear and Beloved Land Family; Along with a host of friends and loved ones that will miss her dearly.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.delanomortuary.com for the Haskins Hennessee family.
