Norma Ann Childers

Norma Ann Boyle Childers entered eternal rest on April 21, 2020 due to the sudden onset of acute myeloid leukemia. Norma was born August 13, 1935 in Sumpter, South Carolina, to James Austin Boyle Sr. and Evelyn Nola Boyle. Her maternal grandparents were William Leslie Brunson and Viola Corbett Brunson. Her paternal grandparents were Sanders Cunningham and Katherine Boyle. She was predeceased by her grandparents, parents, and her husband Franklin “Buddy” Childers. She is survived by her daughter Karen Denise Childers son-in-law Kevin Alexander, brother James A. Boyle Jr., sister-in-law Betsy Childers Haule, nephews Michael S. & Kenneth C. Boyle and Thomas Haule III, nieces Susan H. Winstead, Gail H. Fulcher, and Anna H. White.

While Norma and Buddy met, married, and lived in South Carolina, they moved to the Savannah and Brunswick/St. Simons Island Georgia area. Their years in Savannah were highlighted by their involvement in their church, Trinity United Methodist, and raising their daughter, and enjoyed a rich social life in the Savannah area. They loved to entertaining friends from their church, and Buddy’s colleagues from work.

Their time in Brunswick and St. Simons Island was also very family oriented with involvement at Altimeer Presbyterian Church and the traffic club. Norma loved to support Denise’s activities and she frequently volunteered to her with her friends to school activities. A favorite event for both Norma and Buddy was Saturday for high school football games, when they would drive carloads of high school girls and were anchors of the cheering section. Norma was a sunshine spreader by declaring beach days, then taking Denise and her friends the beaches in Savannah and Tybee Island, often enjoying picnic lunches.

The family moved to Neptune Beach Florida, where Norma went back to college, and subsequently worked at the Florida State University Jacksonville Foundation. She enjoyed the mission there to provide financial assistance for students to take advantage of educational opportunities and state-of-the-art technical and certification program. She was also involved in service to the community by offering services for the disabled and assisting them with basic skills.

After retirement, Norma enjoyed her hobbies, was active socializing with her friends, and was an avid family historian. She had a treasure trove of family artifacts and documents and loved to vividly describe the life and times of a beloved family member or ancestor.