Norman Family in Lowndes County

Norman family reunion, 1949.

THE NORMAN FAMILY IN LOWNDES COUNTY
John Alexander Norman, about 1900?
John Alexander Norman was born on July 21, 1855, in Butler County, Alabama, to John James Norman and Mary Elizabeth Sheppard.
It is believed that John only took one long trip in his life. This was to Bearden, Arkansas, to visit relatives in 1874. Here is a copy of a letter dated March 24, 1874, he wrote to his mother while he was on this trip. At the time of this letter he was just 18 years old.

On November 8, 1898, John married Leila Lee Dean, who was born November 8, 1876, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Dean of Butler County. After living in Montgomery and then Letohatchee, he moved his family to Fort Deposit in 1915 to work in the blacksmith shop of his brother, M.R. “Pete” Norman, who had moved to Fort Deposit in 1907. M.R. Norman was to become a prosperous businessman in this small community, and would later serve many years as its Mayor and then as its State Representative in the Alabama Legislature.

John and Leila had nine children: Rosalie, born August 26, 1899; Mattie Ethel, born July 3, 1902; Ralph Reynard, born December 7, 1904; Mary Elizabeth, born November 6, 1906; John Waterman, born October 19, 1908; Ray, born October 21, 1910; Lillian Everett, born August 27, 1912; Frances Louise, born January 29, 1915; and Cleopatra Beatrice, born April 2, 1920. Only two of these children would make their home Lowndes County: Ralph and Frances. John died May 11, 1933. Leila died August 2, 1953.
Frances married Henry Addison Long on January 26, 1935. Their home was in North Lowndes County near Benton, where they operated a farm. They had two sons: Henry, Jr., and Francis, also known as “Buck.” Frances died February 25, 1997. Henry died March 29, 1999. They are buried in Selma.
Ralph had worked with his Uncle “Pete” since the age of 12 – after school, on Saturdays and vacation time – doing odd jobs in his uncle’s various businesses. Upon graduation from Lowndes County High School as valedictorian in 1922, Ralph was employed full-time by his uncle.

Ralph & Esther Norman, about 1926?

On September 1, 1926, Ralph married Esther Dunn of Greenville. They made their home in Fort Deposit and had six children: Ralph Reynard Norman, Jr., born March 11, 1928; William Alexander, born September 4, 1930; David Waterman, born February 6, 1936; Siddie Mae, born November 18, 1937; John Charles, born September 23, 1942; and Peter Dara, born May 27, 1944. All of these children lived to adulthood and received college degrees, and four of their sons made their homes in Fort Deposit. Ralph and Esther also had twin daughters, Mary Esther & Annie Elizabeth, who died as infants in 1932 and 1931, respectively. Ralph died June 7, 1976. Esther died August 2, 1982. They are buried by his parents in Myrtlewood Cemetery, Fort Deposit.
In 1926, M.R. Norman started Norman Trading and Milling Company in Fort Deposit at the corner of Rogers and Pollard Streets. Ralph became a ¼ partner in 1934 and a ½ partner in 1942. In 1945, at the age of 41, Ralph purchased the remaining interest of his 72-year-old uncle, and continued to operate the business as sole proprietor until 1956. Upon graduation from the University of Alabama, Ralph Jr. joined the firm in 1949. After graduating from Auburn, Alex was in the Air Force until 1956 when he joined the firm, which became a family partnership. The business was incorporated in 1968, with Ralph Jr. as President and Alex as Vice President and Secretary. At this point Ralph Sr. was “officially” retired. This business continued to operate as a hardware, grocery, dry goods and building supply store until it closed in 1982.
In 1952, Ralph and other local businessmen started Fortex Manufacturing Company, with the primary objective being to improve employment opportunities in the community. Ralph served as President until his retirement in 1968. His sons, John and Pete, became the chief officers and continued to operate the garment factory until it closed in 1980.

(1) Henry Long, Sr.; (2) Iris Norman; (3) Ralph Norman, Jr.; (4) Frances Norman Long; (5) Buck Long; (6) Craig Denson; (7) Cleo Norman Denson; (8) John Rogers, Jr.; (9) Dave Norman; (10) Jimmy Rogers; (11) Chris Rogers; (12) Pete Norman; (13) John Rogers, Sr.; (14) Ralph Norman, Sr.; (15) Henry Long, Jr.; (16) John Norman; (17) Leila Dean Norman; (18) Addie Rose Powers; (19) Siddie Mae Norman; (20) Mary Norman Powers; (21) Ethel Norman Garvin; (22) Mary Frances Rogers; (23) Kathy Rogers; (24) Everett Norman Rogers; (25) Esther Dunn Norman; (26) Rose Lynn Norman; (27) Fletcher Powers.