Joretta Hall Norman

BURLINGTON, NC – Joretta Hall Norman, 91, died peacefully on April 13 at Moneta Springs memory care center in the Twin Lakes Community.

She is survived by her high school sweetheart and husband of 68 years, James W. Norman, who faithfully cared for her during her prolonged journey with Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition to her husband, Joretta is survived by two daughters, Cindy Parks (Cliff) of Durham and Diane Pennington (Darrell) of Hendersonville; four grandchildren, Meredith Gaskins of Spartanburg, SC, Barbara Parks (Zach Sexton) of Burns, TN, Jake Parks of Durham, and Oakley Bentley (Jesse) of Sierra Madre, CA; three great granddaughters, Olivia and Julia Gaskins of Spartanburg, and Beatrice Bentley of Sierra Madre. Joretta was preceded in death by two sisters, Marceline Parr and Wanda Nance, and by a daughter, Amy Norman.

Before moving to Twin Lakes, Joretta and Jim lived for more than 40 years in Jamestown, where they attended Jamestown United Methodist Church. Joretta was devoted to her family, and she took great delight in preparing holiday meals and birthday celebrations for her children and grandchildren. In her youth, Joretta was salutatorian of her graduating class at Bessemer High School in Greensboro, and she studied piano. Music gave her joy that dementia could not diminish.

A memorial service will be held on April 28 at 2:30 p.m. in the Fireplace Room of the Boland Center at Twin Lakes. Guests must enter Twin Lakes at the main gate on South Church Street, then proceed to the Boland Center at 3701 Wade Coble Drive.

The family requests charitable donations in place of flowers.  Gifts in memory of Joretta Norman may be mailed to Twin Lakes Community, 3701 Wade Coble Drive, Burlington, NC 27215 or submitted through the online portal at twinlakescomm.org/giving (scroll down to the “donate” button). Donations to the Alzheimer's Association may be made online at act.alz.org.

The Norman family extends special thanks to the staff of Moneta Springs, who lovingly cared for Joretta for nearly six years.

Lowe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.