Joe Hooker Norman

Joe Norman was born May 19, 1926 in the family home in Laurel, MS. Only a few years later, he, along with his mother and siblings, lost his father to appendicitis just in time for the Great Depression. Hard work and strong family bonds got them through that difficult time. In 1945, Joe enlisted in the Army Air Corp only to be released a few months later as the war ended. He returned home to marry Beverly Ann Garrison who would remain his wife until her passing in 2012. Joe’s determination to take advantage of the G.I. Bill soon took them to Tuscaloosa for him to pursue an engineering degree at the University of Alabama where their eldest son was born in 1947. They would go on to have two other children, first Donald H. Norman and later Beverly Jo Norman, both now deceased. Returning to Laurel after graduation, Joe worked initially for Halliburton for a time before resigning to work for Carter Oil which was absorbed by Esso and in due course became Exxon. In all, he served a career of 30 years with the company before taking early retirement to return to his beloved Laurel and a second career as a consultant working out of the family home. During those 30 years, he rose steadily in the Exxon organization becoming Exploration Manager during the Alaskan oil discoveries and, ultimately Vice President of European Production. His consulting career followed a similar trajectory with high level, often international, assignments culminating as the principal technical advisor to Armand Hammer. As his active career slowed down, he was privileged to serve as the president of William Carey University. The last survivor of seven siblings, Joe passed away the evening of May 10, 2024, in the home in which he was born. He is survived by William, his eldest son, his many grand and great grandchildren as well as many loving nieces, nephews and their children. Services will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel. Visitation will begin a 10:00 a.m. and the service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Hickory Grove Cemetery. Rev. Wayne Williams will officiate. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Joe Hooker Norman

May 19, 1926 - May 10, 2024