Adelaide Gregory Norton

Born in Decatur, GA on August 28, 1921   Deceased November 13, 2017

Adelaide Gregory Norton died on November 13, 2017, at the age of 96 while a resident at The Gardens of Gainesville.  She was the youngest daughter of Cleburne E. Gregory (political editor of the Atlanta Journal) and Sarah Adelaide Collis Gregory of Decatur GA.  She attended Decatur Girl’s High School, Agnes Scott College for two years and earned a degree in journalism at the University of Georgia, where she pledged Chi Omega.  She recently received recognition for being a Chi O for 75 years, and was especially proud of the fact that her mother was a member of the second Chapter of Chi O, her sister was President of the Georgia Chapter of Chi Os and she had three granddaughters who are Chi Os. 

She met William L. (Bill or W.L.) Norton, Jr. of Gainesville, GA while he was a student at Emory University and married in 1946 after he returned from serving as a Captain in the Army during WW II.  Sweet Adelaide was one of the most agreeable individuals you would ever meet.  She was patient and kind to all.  To her, everything was “great, just great.”  She worked at the Texas Co. while W.L. was in law school, and when he worked for the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, D.C., she worked for Sen. Richard B. Russell during his run for President in 1952.  They moved to Gainesville in 1956 and Adelaide focused on raising two children and supporting W.L’s law career.  During this time she volunteered for the Red Cross, the Junior League, the Hospital Auxiliary and became the first Volunteer Director for Gainesville’s growing hospital.  She later served as the Woman’s Editor of the Gainesville Tribune and was active in the Hall County Historical Society, the Hospital Auxiliary (where she was President), and the Quinlan Art Association.  Her efforts in placing Green Street on the National Register of Historic Places led to Adelaide being selected as Woman of the Year by the Gainesville Rotary Club.  Throughout all these years, she supported W.L.’s activities as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, author of numerous publications on bankruptcy law (during which she personally typed most of a multivolume bankruptcy treatise), and provider of over 100 seminars on bankruptcy law, nationally known as Norton Institutes.  These seminars enabled Adelaide and W.L. to travel all over the United States.  She was a fabulous cook and loved her bridge and study clubs.  At The Gardens, she enjoyed social activities, watching birds outside her window and showing off her family pictures. She particularly grew to love to play Mexican Train. Most importantly, Adelaide Norton loved her family.  She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, C.E. Gregory, Jr. (a named partner at Arnall Golden & Gregory) and sister, Polly Gregory Jewett (past Director of the Georgia Historical Commission) and her husband of 70 years. 

She is survived by her son William L. Norton III (Sallie) and daughter Martha Norton Hodge; six grandchildren: William L. Norton IV (Heather), Jameson K. Norton (Anna), Sarah Norton Ross (Adam), Savannah N. Hodge, Caroline G. Hodge, and Kathryn C. Hodge; and seven great grandchildren: William L. Norton V, Charles E. Norton, Jameson E. Norton, John Kingsley Norton, Luke R. Ross, Claire L. Norton and Daniel H. Ross. 

The family wishes to acknowledge the loving care from a special group of caregivers: Linda Patton, Connie Dills, and Cathy Davis.  A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Gainesville, GA on Saturday, November 18, 2017 commencing at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Longstreet Society or the First Presbyterian Church.

Those wishing to sign the online register for Mrs. Norton may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Ga. 30501 is in charge of arrangements.

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