Norman Edmonds

Norman Olander Edmonds was born in McAlpin, West Virginia to the late Nathaniel Lawrence Edmonds and Julia Pauline Edmonds on August 15, 1945   He was the baby of the family with two older sisters, Barbara Hall (Cleveland, Ohio), Alma Moore (Athens, Tennessee) and one brother, Lawrence Edmonds (Beckley, West Virginia).

Norman confessed his belief in Christ at an early age and continued to serve Him throughout his life. Norman touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity, and maintained his trade mark sense of humor throughout his life. He could make a friend wherever he went. Norman attended schools in both Beckley, West Virginia and Cleveland, Ohio. In 1963, at the age of 17 years old, he joined the United States Army, where he attained the level of Master Marksmen. Norman remained in the Army until the untimely death of his older brother, Lawrence Nathaniel Edmonds in 1966. Upon being honorably discharged, he served his community as an activist championing Civil Rights with the Black Panther Party. In October of 1966, he married childhood sweetheart, Barbara Jean Filmore and later moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. After several years, he returned to Cleveland where he worked various jobs. It was during this time he met and fell in love with Juanita Winthrop, later marrying in December of 1984. In 1999, he moved to Texas, where he worked and retired from the Marriot Hotels Incorporated, in 2014.

Norman was preceded in death by his brother, Lawrence Nathaniel Edmonds and sister, Alma Moore. He leaves behind to mourn his passing his beloved daughters: Kim Edmonds-Shine (Terry Shine) of Grand Prairie, TX, Yolanda Joy Edmonds of Warren, OH, and Megan D. Williams-Dillard (Kenneth Dillard) of West Palm Beach, FL.; Grandchildren: Essence Edmonds, Ethan A. Williams, and Emari Edmonds; a sister, Barbara Hall; Special nieces: Glendora “Patty” Powell (Ernest Powell) of Athens, TN, Barbara Crowder of Tampa Florida, Jameszina Milton (Jeff Milton) of Riceville, TN; and their children; as well as a host of other family members of Cleveland, OH; the Hales of Beckley, WV and the Bronx, NY.

Daddy! You will be greatly missed!!

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. in the chapel of M.D. Dotson & Sons Funeral Home- Athens, TN., with Rev. Roxiann Sherles delivering the eulogy. The family will receive friends one hour before the service from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at McMinn Memory Gardens in Athens, TN, with military honor guard. Services of loving memory entrusted to M.D. Dotson & Sons Funeral Home- Athens, TN.