Bobby Joe Norris

He was born on June 7, 1936 to George Norris and Myrtle Grogan Norris in Todd, North Carolina. Surviving are his wife, Anne Houck Norris, his daughter, Pamela Norris Moretz & husband, David, his granddaughter, Anne Moretz Hamby & husband, Dwayne. Also surviving are his brother, Mike Norris & wife, Marie, his brother-in-law, Hubert Matheson, his nieces, Kendall LaBrutto (Cam), Kinsay Sand (Matt), Anita Chappell, Debbie Wilson (Pete), and Mitzi Matheson, as well as many great nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his son, Scott Bradley Norris, his brother, G. C. Norris, his sister, Georgia Gail Matheson, his mother-in-law, Sarah Houck, and his nephew-in-law, Ben Chappell.

Joe "BJ" retired from the Greensboro Police Department after 30 years where he rose to the rank of Captain. He was highly respected and made many lifelong friends throughout his law enforcement career and beyond. He was awarded the Purple Heart after being severely assaulted while “walking the beat” early on in his career. BJ continued his involvement in law enforcement, becoming active with the National Peace Officers Association. After retiring and a desire to fill his newly spare time, he enjoyed working at Winn Dixie and O’Reilly Auto Parts in Greensboro for several years, with the same dedication that he had given the citizens of Greensboro as a police officer.

BJ had quite the sense of humor and could be found sharing tales, observations, and “war stories” of his life, both in his career and also of growing up in the mountains of NC.

Capt. Norris loved the Lord and carried the word of Christ by sharing his beautiful tenor voice singing with southern gospel quartets, The Samaritans and The Christian Heralds for 25 years. For years he enjoyed attending the yearly National Quartet Convention and hearing the Word of God shared in music. He later joined the bluegrass group Southeast Express where he sang tenor and played mandolin for many years. He was very musically talented and “picked” and sang with Doc Watson and others as a young man and could be heard singing live on WATA radio in Boone, NC. As life sometimes comes full circle, it did for Joe as Doc’s granddaughter was one of Joe’s nurses at The Foley Center. Special thanks go to Chelsey as she discovered the history of Joe and Doc and played music for Joe from her phone while she cared for him.

The family will receive friends for a time of visitation prior to the service beginning at 11:00 a.m. The funeral service for Bobby Joe Norris will be held on Monday, June 15 at 12:00 noon at the Loflin Funeral Home Chapel, 212 W. Swannanoa Avenue, Liberty, NC; burial will follow at Dr. Clyde M Gilmore Memorial Park in Julian, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Special Olympics for NC at 2200 Gateway Centre Blvd., Ste 201, Morrisville, NC 27560 or to Liberty Hospice at 621 Chestnut Ridge Parkway, Blowing Rock, NC 28605.

Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at www.LoflinFH.com.

Loflin Funeral Home of Liberty is honored to serve the Norris family.