Ruby Norris

Ruby Lee Norris, 96, of Topping, VA., departed this life on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, after positively influencing the lives of many people. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Vernon W. Norris, Sr.; also, sisters Rachel Bridger, Polly & Ruth Norris and grandson Matthew C. Norris. She was the daughter of the late Squire Rogers Norris and Ruby Hall Norris. She was born in Hartfield, VA, December 16, 1915. Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Vernon W. Norris, Jr., (Carol), grandsons Christian M. and Andrew W. (Shannon); and two great-grandsons, several nieces, nephews and many friends.

Mrs. Norris graduated from Syringa High 1932 and from the University of Mary Washington in 1936. She did graduate work at William & Mary and received a Master of Humanities from the University of Richmond.

She began her distinguished 37 year career in education at Kilmarnock High and Elizabeth City Public schools. Her public school education was interrupted by WW11 when the family moved to Philadelphia, where she helped found and was assistant principal of the first private high school, Columbia Institute, for returning war veterans.

After the war, she taught at Urbanna Elementary and Middlesex HS. The family moved to Richmond where she was an English and journalism teacher, newspaper and yearbook sponsor at John Marshall, George Wythe and Douglas Freeman High schools. She was awarded the Distinguished Award by Southern Interscholastic Press Association of Washington & Lee University for yearbook innovations. At the time of her education retirement, she had completed 10 years as area wide creative writing and humanities consultant for both Richmond and Henrico schools.

Mrs. Norris served as vice president and president of VA Association of Teachers of English for four years, a member of the National Council for Teachers of English, president of the Richmond chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society of outstanding women educators. She wrote articles for professional journals, lectured at national and state conventions. She was a contributing editor to Virginia Authors, editor and author of the Dialogue Series, books for classroom and teacher workshops describing creative writing techniques.

Mrs. Norris was extremely active in the UMW Alumni Association; she was fund raising chair of the Richmond Chapter and president of the Golden Club. She was also a member of the Alumni Executive Center Campaign Committee. She established the “Ruby Lee Norris Scholarship” for a student majoring in English or French. Governor George Allen appointed her to a four year term on the UMW Board of Visitors. She served seven years on the Alumni Association Board and 10 years on the UMW Foundation Board. UMW twice honored her contributions both to the college and her profession: first, in 1981 with the Outstanding Alumnus Award and in 2000 with the Outstanding Service Award. Other awards included a literary travel grant from NEA.

Church and community contributions included choir member, Alter Guild and youth chair of Christ Church Parish, Middlesex and St Matthews Episcopal Church, Richmond. At Grace & Holy Trinity, Richmond, she served on the Child Care and Christian Education Board and Altar Guild. She twice served as chair of the Day Circle of Episcopal Church Women at Christ Church Parish.

She served twice as president of the Middlesex Woman’s Club. She was a founding member of the Chesapeake Bay Writers Club, a member of the Middlesex County Board of Directors of the Red Cross and supporter of Rappahannock Community College. She was also a member of the Garden Club of Middle Peninsula which named a scholarship in honor in 2009.

In 2007-8, she was a member of the Northern Neck-Middle Peninsula Committee, ‘Bridging the Rappahannock’, which formed the 50th anniversary celebration of the opening of the Robert O. Norris, Jr. Bridge. She was a founding member and on the Board of Directors of the Middlesex Family YMCA. In 2009, the Middlesex Rotary Club selected Mrs. Norris and her sister, Rachel, as ‘Pride of Middlesex’ recipients.

Mrs. Norris had a second career as writer and photographer for a gardening column and feature writer for Pleasant Living magazine. She also wrote local color articles for Bay Splash and Chesapeake Style magazines and profiles of Middle Peninsula gardens for Virginia Gardener. Her poetry was published in many issues of Poet’s Domain, a regional Virginia literary magazine. She and her husband, Vernon, Sr., helped establish the Northern Neck Kennel Club.

Funeral services will be held at Christ Church Parish (Episcopal), Routes 33 & 638, Christchurch, Wednesday March 14, beginning at 12 noon with interment in the church cemetery. A celebration of a life well lived will follow immediately in the Church Fellowship Hall. The family will receive friends at Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home, Saluda, Tuesday, March 13, from 5-8PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Christ Church Parish Endowment Fund, PO Box 476, Saluda, VA 23149 or UMW Foundation, 1119 Hanover St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.