Jennie Norris Obituary

Jennie Ruth Simcox Norris

March 10, 2025

BURLINGTON, NC - Jennie Ruth Simcox Norris, age 101, died on March 10, 2025 at Twin Lakes Retirement Community in Burlington, NC. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, March 15, from 12:30 to 1:45PM, with funeral to follow at 2:00PM in the Charles B. Hux Memorial Chapel at 300 West Main Street, Mountain City, TN. Burial will follow immediately at Sunset Memorial Park.

Ruth was born and raised in Crackers Neck, a farming community in Johnson County, TN. She was the daughter of Nettie Louise Green Simcox and John Thomas Simcox. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sisters Mamie S. Marion, Dorothy S. Fritts Hobson and Juanita Simcox; her brothers Rev. Bruce R. Simcox and R. Shelton Simcox; her great-grandson Richard R. Hughes II. Two of her siblings, Hugh Simcox and Opal Simcox, died in infancy.

Ruth and her husband, Robert J. Norris, were married over 57 years before his death in 2002. They were loving parents who modeled integrity and hard work for their family, and we will never forget the lessons they taught us. Ruth was the last survivor of the children of five brothers who raised their families in Crackers Neck. These brothers were her father, John T. (Tom), James (Jim), Joseph (Joe), Wiley and Charlie Simcox. Ruth lived a quiet life, working hard at keeping a spotless home, bountiful vegetable garden and lovely flowers. She was a Christian who loved God and faithfully served Him. She was the oldest member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Ruth and Bob spent most of their lives in Crackers Neck, but in 1964 they moved to Boones Creek Community in Jonesborough, TN, for Bob to be closer to his work. They lived there 12 years before returning to Johnson County. In 2010, at the age of 87, Ruth moved to Twin Lakes Retirement Community in Burlington, NC, to be near family. She lived independently there in an apartment until December, 2024, when she moved to skilled care on the Twin Lakes Campus.

Survivors include daughters Glenda Norris Koger and her husband Hal of McLeansville, NC and Carolyn Norris Vaughan and her husband Ronnie of Palmyra, VA. Her granddaughters are Valerie Snyder Hazlitt (Robert), Michele Vaughan Taylor (Tracy) and Nicole Vaughan. Her great-grandsons are Garrett Hazlitt (Braden) and Andrew Hazlitt. Her adored great-great grandchildren are Axel Hazlitt and Elodie Hazlitt. Ruth is also survived by many nieces and nephews from the Simcox and Norris families.

The pallbearers will be Garrett Hazlitt, Andrew Hazlitt, Aaron Shull, Eric Townsend, Billy Jack Stout and Doug Fritts.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 3385 Roan Creek Road, Mountain City, TN 37683.

Online condolences and memories may be sent to the family at www.huxlipfordfh.com

Hux & Lipford Funeral Home 300 West Main Street, Mountain City, TN is assisting the family.