Funeral service for Mr. Edward Eugene Norwood will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 18, at Riverwood Family, with a private family burial. Visitation is from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at Riverwood.
Mr. Norwood, 99, of Brookhaven, passed from this life June 13, 2022, just shy of reaching that “century” mark, being born February 24, 1923, to his parents, Stancil L. Norwood and Vera Smith Norwood.
Ed served his country honorably and proudly from 1943-1946 as an USA Army Master Sergeant during World War II. He was stationed in Hawaii and fought in the Pacific theater. His assignment was to oversee a searchlight detachment using anti-aircraft artillery. He was awarded two Purple Hearts and the Victory Medal while serving in the Asiatic Pacific Theater.
Upon honorable discharge, he worked for the Union Oil Company until retirement.
Ed worked just as avidly in the pursuit of his hobbies as he did his profession. He touched many lives of all ages and was affectionately known as “Mr. Ed”.
One of those hobbies was hunting and fishing. He was featured in Turkey Hunter’s
Digest and Field and Stream magazine articles. As an avid supporter of the American Turkey Federation and Duck’s Unlimited, he loved to mentor young hunters. There are many stories of Mr. Ed’s hunts, and we know that the truth was in there somewhere.
Another hobby enjoyed by Mr. Ed was golf.
As a member of the Brookhaven Country Club since 1948, he served as President and Club champion building the first swimming pool under his leadership. But his most rewarding days at the club were as Mr. Ed in the golf shop. From assisting with the daily activities with the golfers and tennis players to his favorite duties of assisting the children in the swimming pool with their snacks, his days were full.
His support and love for golf also extended to his many memories at Wolf Hollow Golf Club and Copiah Lincoln Community College. He played, worked in the golf shop, and pulled out his weed eater when needed. His involvement with both courses and men’s golf associations led to the creation of the Norwood Cup tournament beginning in 2004. This annual competition continues in recognition of Ed’s service to the men’s golf association at both the Brookhaven Country Club and Wolf Hollow. Every year he always found a way to cheer for both teams as he wore both team shirts.
While he was always a promoter of the men’s golf association at both clubs, his true love was being a mentor to junior golfers learning to play the game. So, in 2018, the Ed Norwood Golf Scholarship through the Co-Lin Foundation was established by Ronny Ross, Jeff Henning, and Josh Smith. This scholarship recognizes a Co-Lin Golf Team member who is a positive role model and excels in the classroom and community. This scholarship has brought Ed much pleasure and enjoyment in the last few years.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Bessie Gorenflo Norwood; son-in-law, Lonny Ray; his parents; and brothers, Alton Norwood and Stancil Norwood.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Beverly Ray and Debra Strong (David); eight grandchildren, David Strong, Jr., Mark Strong (Kelly), Jason Strong (Saundra), Patrick Strong (Marianne), Jonathan Strong (Claire), Betsy Phillips Smith (Grady), Jacob Ray, and Cal Ray (Kayla). He is also survived by 20 great grandchildren as well as a host of other loving family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Norwood scholarship through the Co-Lin Foundation at P.O. Box 649, Wesson, MS 39191 or online at www.colin.edu/alumni-foundation.
The family would like to say a special thank you to the staff of the Aspen of Brookhaven who embraced him as a loved member of the Aspen family.
