Millie Norris had a way about her of making people smile. It was a loss to her family and the entire Halls community when she passed away on March 22, 2023, at age 88.
1935 Buick 4-door sedan, Millie and Ed Norris
At last year’s Halls Band Car Show, there were Millie and Ed, sitting with the car Ed had restored, and Millie observed it was the Best in Show the previous year and had the honor of being on the 2022 commemorative band T-shirt. As I tried to get a photo without background noise and they tried to leave, Millie stuck her head out and waved good-bye.
That would be the last time I saw her. When her husband, Ed, died on Dec. 8, 2022, Millie’s health prevented her from receiving friends.
Starting as a senior at Halls High School, Class of 1953, Millie Bledsoe was named “best all around,” played the saxophone and was a majorette.
Ed and Millie Norris celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at Christ United Methodist Church on July 8, 2017. (Photo by Bob Heydasch)
Most recently, she served on the Halls Crossroads Historical Museum Board, a volunteer group to establish a repository of Halls artifacts, primarily the photo collection of the late Hubert LaRue.
In between, she raised four sons – Mike, Doug, Greg and Chris Vandergriff – and leaves 12 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. The full obituary is here. Honors include:
- Halls Woman of the Year, 2006
- Halls High Alumni Hall of Fame, 2018
- Volunteer of the Year, Halls Crossroads Women’s League, 2008
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 2, 4 p.m. at Christ United Methodist
Church, 7535 Maynardville Highway, Knoxville. The family asks anyone who wants to display one of Millie’s quilts to bring it for inclusion in the service. Jake Mabe wrote about the couple at their 50th wedding anniversary. His story is here.