Mrs. Bertha Mae Edwards Norwood of 317 West 27th Avenue, Cordele, Georgia died Saturday, May 7, 2022 at her residence.

The memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 12:00 Noon at the J. W. Williams Funeral Home Porte Cochere in Cordele, Georgia.  Everyone in attendance is asked to please wear a mask and to practice social distancing.

Mrs. Bertha Norwood was born to the parentage of the late James Edwards, Sr. and Doris Sanders Gaston on December 4, 1933 in Crisp County, Georgia.  She was raise by her mother and the late Mr. Aaron Gaston, Sr.

Loved ones who preceded her in death are:  Baby Robert and Sam III (children) and Bro. Samuel Norwood, Jr. (husband).

She was baptized into the Lord's church in the late 1950s by Bro. Lamar, Minister of the Opa Locka Church of Christ.  Being married to a gospel minister, she served in various   congregations:  Fourth Avenue Church of Christ, Gainesville, Florida, Lincoln Villa Church of Christ, Jacksonville, Florida, and North Mesquite Street Church of Christ, Las Cruces, New Mexico.

She and her husband returned to Cordele, Georgia in 1988, placing membership at the Thirteenth Street Church of Christ, being faithful even in sickness.  Her favorite saying, "live right so you can die right."  Mom was active in the church.  She taught Sunday School, VBS, Ladies Bible Class, and attended many Ladies Day programs.

She attended school in Crisp County and later graduated from Gainesville High School in 1972.  She continued her education at Florida Junior College where she completed the CNA program in 1974.

As a mother, she was devoted first to teaching her children the  Bible…what is expected of a Christian, being respectful to all people and the importance of being educated.  She did not "spare the rod" at home or in public.

She leaves to cherish her memories:  a son, Larry Norwood of Atlanta, Georgia; a daughter, Dorcas Norwood of Cordele, Georgia; two brothers, Robert Gaston, Sr. (Annie Mae) and Bobby Dean Gaston both of Tampa, Florida; a sister, Annie Doris Branton (Isaac) of Tampa, Florida; four grandchildren, Sequoria McBurnie (Johnny) of Jacksonville, Florida, Samuel Norwood, IV (Fonda) of Wichita, Kansas, Bernadine Norwood of Wichita, Kansas, and Aaliyah Norwood Brown of Okmulgee, Oklahoma; eight great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Margarie Edwards of Jacksonville, Florida; a caring nephew and niece, Robert Gaston, Jr. and Deann Gaston; a host of nieces, nephews, many cousins, other relatives and friends, to include her special friends, Donna Cobb and Freda Street.  Ministers, Bro. Leon Hughes, Bro. Robert Clemons, Sr., Bro. Isiah Blackshear, Bro. Willie Holton, Bro. George Draine, and Bro. Carl Colbert.