Roy Norman

Mr. Roy Norman, age 93, of Columbia, passed away on Monday, March 14, 2016 at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Roy was born on May 9, 1922 in Giles County, Tennessee to Sam and Lena Mae Cummins Norman. A humble man, he was a man from what we call today “The Greatest Generation”, Roy served honorably in the European theatre, specifically in Germany during World War II. He entered the service on November 15, 1942 and was discharged on February 6, 1946 having attained the rank of Sargent. He served in the Army Reserves until 1949.

On February 18, 1948 he married the love of his life, Martha Dial. Roy was a wonderful family man, husband and father. His daughter remembers that he was the sweetest, kindest and gentlest man anyone would ever want to meet. He loved his family tremendously and really enjoyed doing things with them. He was a retired bulldozer operator with Farmers Construction.

Roy was a man of deep faith and conviction who lived out his faith in action. He had a servant’s heart and demonstrated this by repairing things for people who couldn’t do so for themselves at no charge, along with his brother Gene. He didn’t wait for people to ask him, he and Gene sought out what they could do for others proactively. In the same way, Roy served his church family at Riverview Baptist Church. For example, he would go early to the church building prior to services and make sure the building was heated appropriately. He also served as a Deacon and a Sunday school teacher until his health prevented him from doing so. His church recognized this and celebrated his “faith in action” lifestyle by having a “Roy Norman Day” and for naming their new fellowship hall in his honor. In so many more ways than his military service, Roy Norman demonstrated that he really was of “The Greatest Generation”.

Mr. Norman is survived by his loving wife: Martha Dial Norman; daughter: Pam (Dale) Dillehay; grandchildren: Amy (Will) Beasley and Tim (Cheryl Tate) Dillehay; great-grandson: Justin Dillehay; step-great-granddaughter; Taylor (Jacob Craig) Beasley; step-great-great-granddaughter: Lennon Craig; brothers: Floyd (Carolyn) Norman, and Bobby (Minnie) Norman; sister: Leona Lyons and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents: Sam and Lena Mae Cummins Norman; siblings: Curley, Howard, R. L., James Hubert and Gene Norman, and Linda Hendrix, Dot Adams and Pauline Pope.

Funeral services for Mr. Norman will be held on Friday, March 18 at 4:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia and will be officiated by Bro. David Buffaloe and Bro. Ezell Rose. Interment will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the American Legion Herbert Griffin Post 19. The family will visit with friends on Thursday, March 17 from 4pm – 8pm also at the funeral home.

Justin Dillehay, Will Beasley, Josh Lamont, Keith Lyons, Michael Shane Sullivan, Jerry Sullivan and Mac Palmer will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be deacons and members of Riverview Baptist Church. The family would like to give special thanks to Ruby and Jimmy Aslinger, their Santa Fe Pike neighbors and the Vanderbilt Hospice Unit.

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements and online condolences may be made to the family at www.williamsfh.com .