Norma Jean Williams Hiatt

Norma Jean Williams Hiatt, 96, slipped peacefully to heaven on Sunday, Feb 13, 2022. Norma was born December 8, 1925, the sixth child of seven children of Willard Phillip Williams and Mary (Marea) Christina Christensen Williams , in Provo, Utah.  She learned to work with her parents in the garden and mother taught her sewing during The Great Depression as a child.  She attended Spencer Elementary school in Orem Utah.  Norma was a spirited redhead, a tomboy who loved to play ball, ride bikes, go on adventures with her dog Prince and read. She was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the age of 8 years in Orem Utah.  Norma attended Lincoln High School in Orem where she met the love of her life, Vernon Talmage Hiatt, a college student at BYU on a blind date for her High School Prom.  Norma and Talmage were married on January 3, 1944 in Medford Oregon before Talmage left to serve in the Army during WWII. Their union was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on May 5, 1944.  Upon returning from the war, Norma accompanied her husband to his home state of North Carolina to attend Law School.  Norma had never traveled to the south and faced many challenges in adjusting to her new home and southern life. Although they made their annual trek west to visit her side of the family, Norma called North Carolina home. Talmage and Norma’s little family moved to Mount Airy, North Carolina in 1951 where they raised their 6 children.  Norma enjoyed playing cards, badminton in the yard with the kids and grandkids, a good movie and big bowl of popcorn.  Norma was always colorfully creative whether it be in her home décor or fashion accessories.  She took up painting in her later years, her artwork adorning many of the walls of her family’s homes today. Norma was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, sister and friend, with a hand to help, ears to listen, and an accepting heart with a positive light to shine on all those around her. Norma served in many capacities in the Mount Airy Branch, and then Mount Airy Ward, in the Primary, Young Women’s and Relief Society organizations, as well as in leadership positions in the Greensboro and Winston Salem Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was a continual learner of the gospel of Jesus Christ and spent much of her adult life sharing her testimony and faith with all she came in contact with.  Norma is credited for organizing the first Mount Airy Ward Choir and continued involvement as choir director for many years. Norma was involved in local Republican Party, and worked the voting polls during elections.  Norma worked as a secretary at her husband’s law office, in the local Tobacco Market and for the US Census Bureau. Norma is preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Talmage Hiatt, and survived by her 6 children, Tamela (James) Midkiff, of Winston Salem, Kenneth G. (Kathleen) Hiatt of Mount Airy, V. Craig (Ann) Hiatt of Salisbury, Sharron (Dale) Higbee of Twin Falls, ID, Laurel (James) Zywot of Jacksonville, FL and David P. (Maria) Hiatt of Mount Airy;  25  grandchildren, 94  great grandchildren,  1 great- great grandchild. The family would like to thank the staff of the Northern Skilled Unit of Northern Regional Hospital, especially the nurses and assistants who took such loving care of our dear mother for the last few years of her life.  Thank you for preserving her dignity and providing her comfort.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the James Monroe Hiatt Memorial Cemetery, PO Box 1204, Mount Airy, NC 27030 or Northern Skilled Unit of Northern Regional Hospital, 830 Rockford St., Mount Airy, NC 27030.  A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 19, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 162 Temple Ln, Mount Airy, NC.  Moody Funeral Service in Mount Airy is proudly serving the Hiatt family.