 Martha B. Norris was born January 4, 1920, in Spring Hill, Alabama, to Jesse Frank and Betty Bullock Norris. She attended school in Pike County, Alabama and graduated from High School in 1939. After high school, Martha completed two years of finishing (trade) school in Mobile Alabama in 1941, and moved to Columbus, Georgia the same year. While in Columbus, she worked for the telephone company. In 1944, she moved to Seattle, Washington, where she worked in the secretarial field until March, 1945, at which time she joined the United States Army. After serving our country proudly as a WAC, she was Honorably discharged in October of 1946. She continued to be a member of the DAV and the American Legion until her death. Martha married Benjamin Couch in July of 1948 and her only child, Patrick, was born April 16, 1949. Martha and Benjamin divorced in 1952. She continued to raise her son alone until she met Anthony Elia and married him November 4, 1956. Sometime after Anthony died in July of 1983, Martha moved to Bellflower California, where she lived the rest of her life. Martha enjoyed cooking Italian pasta dinners for her friends and relatives. After enduring several illnesses in her later years, Martha passed away July 21, 2002, in Bellflower, California, at the age of 82. Left to cherish her memory are her son, Patrick Elia; grandson, Eric Elia; granddaughter, Chelsea Elia; brothers, Harold E. Norris and Richard G. Norris; a sister-in-law, Sally Norris; and many nieces and nephews. The family will visit with friends on Thursday, July 25, 2002 from 2:00 until 8:00 PM at Gardenside Funeral Chapel. There will be a graveside service on Friday, July 26, 2002, at 10:00 AM, at Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, where she will be laid to rest near her mother and grandmother. |
