Norma McDaniel Parsons

Norma McDaniel Parsons died on Tuesday evening, July 4, 2017 after a lengthy struggle with vascular disease. In her last years, she was a sweetly confused resident at Shelby Ridge Rehab in Alabaster, Alabama. She always had a bright smile for all. Born in Bessemer, Alabama on February 9, 1925 to Ray McDaniel and Mittie McDaniel Tedesco, she spent her early childhood years surrounded by the large McDaniel clan on Arlington Avenue. Her maternal grandmother, Holly Bell Armstrong, was one of the early teachers in the Hopewell community and Norma had many good memories of visits “in the country” with her Grandmother Armstrong. Norma also visited her dear cousin Betty Grace Spinks Laird in Atlanta and they were very close through all the years. School years were filled with friends back in Bessemer at Arlington Elementary and later, Bessemer High School.

After graduating from The University of Alabama in 1947, Norma was hired to work in the Display Department at Loveman’s in Birmingham. There she met Homer Parsons, a native of Fairfield, who had recently returned from a tour of military duty. Together, Homer and Norma created window designs and interior artistic displays for the store. The couple enjoyed dancing with a great group of friends, working late holiday hours getting windows ready for shoppers, and taking long coffee breaks on the Mezzanine at Loveman’s. Norma and Homer married in the Fall of 1948. In their fifty-three-year marriage, they produced two daughters, lovingly cared for aging family members, spent time with old friends, and took thousands of photos of family gatherings and vacations. Norma was employed as a public librarian and eventually retired from the Birmingham Public Library in the Art and Music Department, while Homer was a draftsman and a photographer at US Steel Fairfield Works. The couple were still dancing away at life, working in their garden, spending time with their grandchildren, and worshiping at their beloved church, Hueytown First United Methodist, when Homer passed away in 2001. Norma continued her activities in the Hueytown and Bessemer area for a number of years, serving in various leadership positions at The Bessemer Hall of History, Amity Study Club and The Alabama Watercolor Society. Sunday School and Bible studies were an important part of her life and she was a faithful correspondent with all friends, sending birthday cards religiously. Her family was always at the top of her prayer list and she never missed an opportunity to “lunch” with friends, especially if chocolate dessert was involved.

Norma is survived by a brother, Kenneth Lee McDaniel; her cousin, Betty Grace Laird; her daughter, Kathy White (Bob); her grandchildren: James Robert White III “Jake” White (Jennifer), Casey Phillips (Michelle), Rebecca Ellen White Pride (Scott), and Mallory Phillips Anderton (Eric). She was also blessed to have two great grandchildren; James Mathis White and Addison Elizabeth Pride. Norma had many other nieces, nephews and cousins, all of whom will miss “Aunt Norma.” She was predeceased by her parents and her husband Homer, as previously noted. Sadly,her younger daughter Nana Patricia Parsons Phillips died in March, 2009 from suffering a serious fall. Through such moments of great sadness, Norma’s faith never failed, knowing with certainty that she would see all of her loved ones One Day.

The family is grateful for the loving care Norma received by a special friend, Laura Stidham, and many other members of her church who provided transportation, shopping trips and lunch visits in the years prior to moving to Alabaster. We are also grateful for the loving care provided to Norma by the staff at Shelby Ridge and New Beacon Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to either Hueytown United Methodist Church or The Bessemer Hall of History. Visitation will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 8 followed by a brief funeral service at 11:00 am at Ridout’s Valley Chapel, 1800 Oxmoor Road in Homewood. Interment will be immediately following in Elmwood Cemetery.