Jerry William Norman

Mr. Jerry William Norman, age 83, of Mount Airy passed on to Glory on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 after a brief illness. He was in his home surrounded by his family when his heart finally gave out. He fought to his last breath to be with and watch over them, still knowing what awaited him in Heaven. Jerry was born to Dan and Reba Callaway Norman of Thurmond, NC on May 19, 1939 in Alleghany County. He was preceded in death by his parents, his younger brother, David Wiley, who died in infancy and his uncle, Paul Callaway, who died in Germany while serving in WWII. Jerry leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Christine Steed Norman, of the home. Also surviving are his children, Daniel W. Norman and his wife Debbie of Dobson, Scott W. Norman and his wife Margie of Mount Airy, Sherri Wagner and her husband Frank of Surprise, AZ, Susan Hodges and her husband Kevin of Tallahassee, FL; his grandchildren, David W. Norman, Deborah Hendricks, Thomas W. Norman, Kathryn Norman, Megan Malone, Laura Wagner, Adrianna DiGuardia, Nathaniel and Kara Grace Hodges; and his great-grandchildren, Samuel and William Hendricks, and Bellamy DiGuardia; his sisters, Janie Barker and her husband Jerry of Ronda, Deanna Warren of Thurmond; and Lucy Taylor of Thurmond, as well as numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends from coast to coast. If he knew you, or if he fixed your car, he considered you a friend. Jerry grew up in Thurmond with the Wilkes-Surry County line running through the living room of his childhood home. He attended Mountain Park High School, where he played baseball and drove school buses as fast as he could get them to run over the Haystack Road, Mountain Park-Zephyr Road and up and down Old Highway 21. He attended Surry Community College and later graduated from Redlands University with a Bachelor’s in Business Management. He was for many years a member of White Rock Methodist Church, and later became a member of Roaring Gap Baptist Church. He was baptized in Mitchell’s River under the bridge at the bottom of Willey Bird’s Hill. He was most recently attending Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Ararat, NC, where his son is the pastor. Jerry left Surry County in 1980 for La Habra, CA, where he worked as an industrial mechanic. Later he moved to Surprise, AZ, and then after 40 years in the wilderness, returned to his beloved NC Mountains. Besides his knowledge and skill as a mechanic, he operated the sound system in his church, sang Southern Gospel music, mostly as a bass, was a Richard Petty fan, and drove a Dodge Charger as hard as he could till the day they told him he couldn’t drive anymore. He was “dad” to many people, and friend to many more. There is far too much to tell about this man in an obituary, but his influence is and will continue to be felt far and wide for years to come. A funeral service will be conducted Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 2:00pm at Elkin Funeral Service Chapel with Rev. Bobby Norman officiating. Burial will follow in Roaring Gap Baptist Church Cemetery in Thurmond. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Elkin Funeral Service. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Elkin Funeral Service Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church Youth, 106 Inspiration Ln, Ararat, NC 27007. Online condolences may be made to www.elkinfuneralservice.com . Services entrusted to Elkin Funeral Service.