Theodore Ted Norris, Jr

Sylvester Theodore "Ted" Norris, Jr., age 85, died peacefully October 14, 2017, at his residence.
Ted or "ST", as he was known by family, was born May 27, 1932, in New Orleans, LA, and is a former resident of Floyd Springs, GA, Palatka, FL, and Jacksonville, FL, having moved to Georgia in 2001. Ted was preceded in death by his parents Sylvester T. Norris, Sr. & Melissa Blankenship Norris of Jacksonville, his first wife Gladys (Cloud) Norris. He is survived by his wife Shirley St. Clair Fannin Norris of Rome, GA; son, Kenneth Norris and his wife Tamara of Hereford, AZ; daughter, Jeanne Turnage, of Littleton, CO; grandchildren, Zachary, Jennifer, Kelly, John, Nichole, Jamie and David; six great-grandchildren, Emma, Anthony, Caitlin, Timothy, Eleanor and Alice. Two step-children, Todd Fannin and wife, Carrie, and Monique Renfro and husband, Rev. Jim Renfro along with five step-grandchildren and a special great-granddaughter, Miley Emerald Armstrong, also survive
Ted attended Robert E. Lee high school in Jacksonville and following school began working at the Hudson Pulp & Paper Corporation in Palatka where he met his wife Gladys. Shortly afterwards he entered the United States Army, following basic training, he served as an MP with the 793rd MP BN in Wurzburg, Germany. Ted separated at the end of his service as a corporal and always looked back on those years with pride and satisfaction as a patriot serving his country. Ted was a man of great faith and loved to talk of biblical teachings and lessons. He was also wonderful singer of gospel songs having been a part of a quartet in the early 1960s with others from Palatka forming the group the Templars. Ted was a Mason and had been a member of Pineland Lodge #86 Free and Accepted Masons (F&AM) in Palatka for more than 60 years. Ted retired from Georgia Pacific paper plant in Palatka in the early 1980s and in 2001 moved to Everett Springs. Following his wifes death in 2003, he moved to Rome where he met his wife Shirley. Together, they were members of the North Broad Baptist Church. They spent his remaining years researching and piecing together his familys history, an activity he truly enjoyed and loved sharing his discoveries with the family. He leaves a rich legacy and will be missed by all who knew him.
A home-going celebration is scheduled for 3:00 pm on Saturday, October 21, 2017, in the Carl Sidwell Chapel of Salmon Funeral Home, 2516 New Calhoun Highway, Rome, GA, 30161, with Pastor Micah Pritchett and Rev. Horace Stewart officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Tabor United Methodist Church Cemetery. The Shanklin-Attaway Post 5 of the American Legion Honor Guard will confer military honors and Masonic graveside rites will be rendered courtesy of the Grand Lodge of Georgia.
The family will receive friends on Saturday at Salmon Funeral Home from 1:30 p.m. until the funeral hour.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Heyman HospiceCare, 400 Turner McCall Blvd, Suite 102, Rome, GA, 30165, or to North Broad Baptist Church, 1309 North Broad Street, Rome, GA 30161.
The staff of Salmon Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Sylvester Theodore "Ted" Norris, Jr.