Obituary for Jeanne Branyon Norris
Jeanne Branyon Norris, 95, died on Sunday, July 3, 2022 in Tallahassee, Florida after a courageous four-year journey with cancer. Jeanne is survived by her four sons, Stephen Leslie Norris (Pia) of Palm Beach, Florida, Paul Whitney Norris (Kathleen) of Chantilly, Virginia, Michael Rial Norris (Laurinda) of Tallahassee, Florida, and Garrett Mark Norris of Jefferson City, Missouri. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Christopher Edward Norris (Anna), Shawn David Norris, Kelly Sandoval Lagos, Aaron Thomas Norris, David Sandoval, Matthew Sandoval, Christina Sandoval, Anna Branyon Norris, Cain Michael Norris, Derek Thomas Norris (Kari), Kevin Allan Norris (Taylor), Kristina Norris Martin (Jake), and Alec Thomas Norris; and her great grandchildren Taylor, Aidan, Ariah, Hayley, Alyssa, Tyler, Bodhi, Evie Clara, Hadley, Rylie, and Bodie. She is also survived by cherished nephews, nieces, family members, and dear friends. Jeanne was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Gracie Norris, Jr., her parents Garrett Garth Branyon and Frances Makely Branyon, and her brother Allan Dean Branyon.
Jeanne was born in Houston, Texas where she lived until the beginning of World War II when she moved to Clifton, Virginia to live with her maternal grandparents while her parents were involved in the war. She graduated from Fairfax County High School in 1943. Following her high school graduation, she went to work for the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company in Washington, DC, where she remained until her retirement in 1982. Jeanne was the first woman to be promoted to high level management within C&P Telephone, overseeing the preliminary stages of the conversion to digital communication technologies.
While living and working for the telephone company in Washington, she attended a dance for soldiers returning from active duty, where she met the love of her life, Tommy Norris. Jeanne and Tommy were married on June 1, 1947, in Brookmont, Maryland. Jeanne and Tommy moved to Arlington, Virginia where they raised their four sons. They remained in Arlington until 1982 when Jeanne retired and they moved to Tommy’s hometown of Dixon’s Mills, Alabama. Throughout her life, she enthusiastically supported her children and grandchildren in all their activities and interests. Each summer following her retirement she would invite her grandchildren to Alabama for several weeks of fun activities.
Jeanne was a devout Christian who was raised in the Presbyterian church. After marriage, Jeanne became a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Clarendon in Arlington, Virginia, and after retirement, of the Dixon’s Mills Baptist Church. Jeanne was a leader in the Women’s Missionary Union, and the hospitality, music, and children’s ministries with both congregations.
She loved to go shopping, to read and to bake and was known to shower family and friends with her homemade hot rolls. Jeanne was a kind, compassionate, and gentle lady whose life journey included childhood Polio, the Great Depression, World War II, and a global pandemic. She will be greatly missed.
A funeral service will be Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home in Thomasville, Alabama, followed by interment in Dunning Cemetery in Dixon’s Mills. The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. prior to the funeral.
Arrangements by O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home.
Jeanne was born in Houston, Texas where she lived until the beginning of World War II when she moved to Clifton, Virginia to live with her maternal grandparents while her parents were involved in the war. She graduated from Fairfax County High School in 1943. Following her high school graduation, she went to work for the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company in Washington, DC, where she remained until her retirement in 1982. Jeanne was the first woman to be promoted to high level management within C&P Telephone, overseeing the preliminary stages of the conversion to digital communication technologies.
While living and working for the telephone company in Washington, she attended a dance for soldiers returning from active duty, where she met the love of her life, Tommy Norris. Jeanne and Tommy were married on June 1, 1947, in Brookmont, Maryland. Jeanne and Tommy moved to Arlington, Virginia where they raised their four sons. They remained in Arlington until 1982 when Jeanne retired and they moved to Tommy’s hometown of Dixon’s Mills, Alabama. Throughout her life, she enthusiastically supported her children and grandchildren in all their activities and interests. Each summer following her retirement she would invite her grandchildren to Alabama for several weeks of fun activities.
Jeanne was a devout Christian who was raised in the Presbyterian church. After marriage, Jeanne became a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Clarendon in Arlington, Virginia, and after retirement, of the Dixon’s Mills Baptist Church. Jeanne was a leader in the Women’s Missionary Union, and the hospitality, music, and children’s ministries with both congregations.
She loved to go shopping, to read and to bake and was known to shower family and friends with her homemade hot rolls. Jeanne was a kind, compassionate, and gentle lady whose life journey included childhood Polio, the Great Depression, World War II, and a global pandemic. She will be greatly missed.
A funeral service will be Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home in Thomasville, Alabama, followed by interment in Dunning Cemetery in Dixon’s Mills. The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. prior to the funeral.
Arrangements by O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home.