Harper A. Norman

Harper A. Norman of Abbeville, 307 McGowan Ave., went to be with the Lord on Friday, Sept. 28, 2001, at the Carlisle Nursing Center in Due West.

He was the son of Alonzo Lawrence Norman and Grace Pardue Norman. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marie Ashley Norman; two children, Dr. Michael Ashley Norman of Atlanta, Ga., and Andrea Norman Burris of Belton; four grandchildren, Dr. Michael Atkinson Norman of Houston, Texas, David Ashley Norman of Ann Arbor, Mich., Ellen Burris Smith of Lowndesville, and James Mark Burris of Belton; and a sister, Grace Norman Ellenbery of Greenwood. His sister, Lura Norman Ellenberg, preceded him in death.

For 50 years, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Abbeville and a deacon (serving several times as chairman), Sunday School Superintendent, Training Union Director, Church Clerk, Trustee and Sunday School Teacher.

He served three terms as a trustee for Connie Maxwell Children's Home and was named Trustee Emeritus by the Board of Trustees.

He was a member of the Development Committee for the Greenwood Methodist Home (now Wesley Commons) for over 20 years and also served as a trustee of that institution.

He was a Certified Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor in the states of Georgia and South Carolina; a member of the S.C. Society of Engineers and a charter member of the American Textile Managerial Engineers Society.

His employment included Assistant Engineer for the City of Greenwood; Plant Engineer for the Brunswick Shipyard in Brunswick, Ga., City Engineer and City Manager in Brunswick; Engineer with J.E. Sirrine Co., Engineers, Greenville, and Assistant Engineer and Director of Engineering for Abney Mills, Greenwood for over 30 years - before his retirement in 1983. During this time he was a member of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club.

The family invites relatives and friends to join them in a worship service of praise to God and in gratitude for Harper's life today, Sept. 30, 2001, at 3 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. Conducting the services will be his pastor, the Rev. Reiny Koschel, and former pastors, the Rev. Wayne Wiggins and the Rev. Ron Gaynor. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons and the members of the Baraca Sunday School Class. Active pallbearers will be Hugh Craft, Philip L. Ellenberg, James A. Hodge Jr., Dewey Goin, William Devore, Don Reese, James S. Jones Jr. and Mason Speer.

Friends will be received at 1:30 p.m. today at the church. His body will be placed in the church sanctuary at that time.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church, Abbeville, or Connie Maxwell Children's Home, Greenwood.

The family will be at the home. Arrangements will be made by Harris Funeral Home, and burial will be in Oakbrook Memorial Park, Greenwood.