Martha Joyce Yerby Norowski's Obituary
Martha Joyce Yerby Norowski passed away October 28, 2013, in Ocean Springs, MS, while visiting with her son. Visitation will be 5 – 7 p.m. on Friday, November 1 and graveside services will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, November 2 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. Martha was born November 8, 1925, in Ripley, TN, to Louise and Jack Yerby. When she was only a few months old, the young family moved to Memphis where she resided for the next 88 active years. She was the widow of Peter F. Norowski, Jr. to whom she was married for close to 60 years. Everyone knew Martha as a vibrant, enthusiastic devotee of family, travel and music. For family and friends, she planned many detailed trips to Hawaii and all of Europe, being an incredibly thorough planner, imparting intricate details, historical and practical. Martha was unconditionally devoted to her three children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Her family will be ever grateful for her wisdom and guidance. She enjoyed helping others, encouraging them, offering hope and wise counsel. Martha was multi-talented. She was once the headliner in an Ann Landers column titled, “How I Met My Spouse”, so she has been internationally published. Martha was an extraordinarily talented pianist, trained in advanced classical as well as popular music. She accomplished the stringent requirements for completion of a degree from the DeShazo College of Music in Memphis when only 18 years of age. She and her husband, Peter, won numerous awards and trophies for their expertise in ballroom dancing. Martha is an inspiration, as she always moved forward and never gave up. Martha had a wonderful, quick sense of humor. She will be sorely missed. She was a member of Second Baptist Church of Memphis and leaves daughters, Stephanie Harris (Bill), and Katherine Harris (Ernie), a son, Dr. Peter Andrew Norowski of Ocean Springs, MS, beloved friend and caregiver Maryjo King also of Ocean Springs, Ms., grandchildren Dr. Monroe Rayburn (Carlyn) of Silver Spring, MD, Peter Rayburn, Esq., (Allison), Amelia Hardman (Bryan) of Atlanta, Chloe Weeks (Jason), Elise Harris, Dr. Peter A. (Drew) Norowski, Cal Norowski of Ocean Springs, Ms., and Nathan Norowski of Atlanta, Ga., ; and great-grandchildren Logan Rayburn, Clara Rayburn, Annelise Rayburn, Robert Rayburn, Lee Hardman, Katie Wilkes Hardman, and Arden Weeks, as well as several devoted and loving caregivers. The family requests that any memorials be sent to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
What’s your fondest memory of Martha?
What’s a lesson you learned from Martha?
Share a story where Martha's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Martha you’ll never forget.
How did Martha make you smile?