Martha Folmar Norman

Martha Folmar Norman, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and cherished member of the Goshen community, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Luverne United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Robert Yawn officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the church. Burial will follow at Green Hills Memorial Cemetery with Trey Norman, Clint Norman, Bo Lankford, Hayes Lee, Ronald Petrey, and Jeff Hale serving as pallbearers. Billy Smith will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

Born and raised in the Goshen area, Martha met the love of her life, Jim Tom “Jimmy” Norman Jr., when she was just 12 years old. Their bond endured a lifetime, and they were married in 1966. Together, they built a life rooted in love and community. A few years into their marriage, they built the Sunny South in Troy, where Martha became a familiar and beloved face. Known for treating her employees like family and her customers like friends, she was often seen with her signature Coca-Cola in hand and a warm smile on her face.

Martha attended the University of Alabama where she pledged Chi Omega sorority and furthered her education at Troy State University, where she earned her degree. She had a lifelong love of learning and adventure. In recent years, she enjoyed playing golf with Jimmy and their sons, Trey and Clint. She also loved beach trips and shopping outings with Natalie. Some of her most fun memories were spending cherished time with her close-knit group of friends—the “Fabulous Five.” She had a passion for tending to her flower beds and working in her yard, creating a peaceful retreat that reflected her warmth and love of nature.

Devoted to her family, Martha’s greatest joy was found in her role as wife, mother, and Mamaw and Grandmama to her grandchildren. She supported her children and grandchildren in every way possible and was their biggest fan in all of life’s endeavors. Her legacy of love, generosity, and joy lives on in each of them.

Martha was preceded in death by her father, Gerdon Folmar; her mother, Sara Wright Folmar Coleman; her Stepfather, Henry Neal Coleman; her sister, June Folmar Hargrove Franklin; and her father and mother-in-law, Jim Tom & Grace Norman.

Martha is survived by her devoted husband of 58 years, Jim Tom Norman Jr.; her children, Jim Tom “Trey” Norman III (Ashley), Natalie Lankford (Bo), and Clint Norman (Anna Leigh); her treasured grandchildren, Morgan Norman, Hayes Lee, Sara Norman, Porter Lankford, Lydia Norman, Ellie Butler, Loxley Lankford, and Fletcher Norman; her sister-in-law, Carola Jeter; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends who will miss her dearly.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in memory of Martha.

The staff of Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the Norman family.