Norman Walter Shearin, Jr., Ed.D.

Norman W. Shearin, Jr. of Kure Beach, NC, peacefully passed on to his heavenly home on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Care Center in Wilmington, NC. Born in Roanoke Rapids, NC in 1943, Norm was preceded in death by his parents, Norman W. and Lillian Shearin, sister Dorothy Davis, and brother Winfield, all of Roanoke Rapids, and infant granddaughter Haley Noel Grow of West Palm Beach, FL. Left to cherish his memory are wife Susan of the home, son Stephen of Flagler Beach, FL, daughter Melissa Grow and grandchildren Tyler, Kayla and Peyton Grow all of Boynton Beach, FL, sister Evelyn Dicologero of Revere, MA, sister Thelma Morgan of Roanoke Rapids, NC, sister Hazel Clark of Boykins, VA, and sister Edna Jones and husband Bobby of Roanoke Rapids along with many nephews and nieces, especially nephew Fred Davis of Roanoke Rapids, mother-in-law Geraldine Vanderbush of Britton, MI, sister-in-law Ellen Miller and husband Lee of Britton, MI, brother-in-law Erwin Vanderbush and wife Mary Lonn of Kewadin, MI, and their children and grandchildren.

After graduating from East Carolina University in 1965, Norm was employed by the Palm Beach County School System as a math teacher and basketball coach at John I. Leonard High School. He received his Master’s Degree from Florida Atlantic University in 1968, then went on to earn a Doctorate of Education from Mississippi State University in 1978. He served as vice principal at Glades Central Community High School in Belle Glade, FL, and principal at Twin Lakes High School and Boca Raton Community High School. Retiring after 31 years with the Palm Beach County School System, Norm returned to North Carolina in 1997 to serve as principal at John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington, NC. He was then named Deputy Superintendent of New Hanover County Schools in 1998 and served in that capacity until December 2002 when he accepted the position of Superintendent of Vance County Schools in Henderson, NC. He retired from that position in April 2011 to enjoy retirement with his wife at their home in Kure Beach, NC. Norm was truly a man who found his niche in life, loving every minute of his 46 years in the field of education. He also loved coaching as well as umpiring and refereeing for high school sports across the state of Florida. He served as President of the Florida High School Athletic Association and was a founding member of the National Dropout Prevention Network. He could be found on a golf course whenever there was time in his busy schedule and even had the honor of playing a round of golf with Jack Nicklaus. Norm was a charter member of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in West Palm Beach, FL. He is currently a member of Kure Memorial Lutheran Church in Kure Beach. Norm lived by the motto “It isn’t what you have in this life that matters, it’s what you give.” Norm gave his all to his family, friends, faith, and career and deeply touched the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

The funeral service will be held at Kure Memorial Lutheran Church, 117 3rd Avenue, Kure Beach, NC at 1:00 pm on Friday, March 25 with visitation beginning at 12:00. Service of Christian burial will be held following the funeral service at Oleander Memorial Gardens, 306 Bradley Drive, Wilmington, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Norm’s name may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physician’s Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401; Kure Memorial Lutheran Church, PO Box 1, Kure Beach, NC 28449; the Florida High School Athletic Association, 1801 NW 80 Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606, or to the charitable organization of your choice.