William Byrd High School Alumni
Vinton, Virginia (VA)
In Memory of
Norma Jean Martin Markey
1935-2025
Born Jul 22, 1935, Norma Jean Martin Markey attended William Byrd High School in Vinton, VA.
Class of 1953
Jul 22, 1935 - Mar 29, 2025
Jul 22, 1935 - Mar 29, 2025
Norma Jean Markey, 89, of the Glebe in Daleville, died on Saturday, March 29th, after a brief illness. She was surrounded by her sons and daughter-in-law.
She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, John Markey; her mother, Mattie Mozelle Stewart Martin; her father, William John Aden Martin; her daughter, Kathryn Jean Markey; her infant son, David Michael Markey; sisters, Vilma (Wilburn) Graves of Richmond, Frances (Gilbert) Wright of Lynchburg; and her brother John Martin of Roanoke.
She is survived by two sons, Jim (Renee) Markey of Roanoke and John Markey II of Daleville; four grandchildren, Lynsey (Zach) Schneider of Mammoth Lakes, California, Andrew (Melanie) Markey of Charlotte, Lauren (Erik) Amy of Lynchburg and Jourdan (Ben) Walker of Roanoke; eight great-grandchildren (Rilynn, Ivan, Lily, Bennett, Lucy, Charlie, Ella and Sullivan); sisters-in-law, Kathleen Greene of Roanoke and Betty Martin of Roanoke.
Born in Kernersville, North Carolina, Norma Jean was the youngest of four children. The family moved to Martinsville shortly after her birth, then to Vinton and eventually to Roanoke. As much as she loved Virginia, she took pride in having some 'tar' on her 'heel.'
Norma Jean attended Roland E. Cook Elementary School in Vinton. Her freshman and sophomore years were at William Byrd High School and her junior and senior years were at William Fleming High School. She has been an active member of the Golden Colonels for many years.
During her secondary school years, she took tap dancing lessons and piano lessons and learned how to play the mandolin. Her father, a shape notes singer, formed a number of singing groups in the area, and Norma Jean provided the piano accompaniment for all of them.
Norma Jean graduated from Roanoke Memorial Hospital School of Professional Nursing. Not yet ready to settle down, she checked the school's job board and saw just what she was looking for--RN jobs in a big hospital in a big city. She picked up the phone and called Columbia Presbyterian in New York City. At the end of the call, the interviewer asked her when she would be able to report for work.
Norma Jean spent a year in New York and she took full advantage of everything New York had to offer. Many of her patients were Broadway actors and actresses and they often provided free show tickets to hospital staff. Before returning to Roanoke, she worked one summer at Beverly Hospital in Beverly, Massachusetts. She worked the 11:00 pm to 7:00 am shift so she could spend her days exploring the beauty of New England. She began to develop an interest in psychiatric nursing and obtained additional training and experience at Sheppard Pratt in Towson, Maryland before returning to Roanoke. Her first nursing job in Roanoke turned out to be her favorite, as a nurse on 5th Floor Rehab (the psychiatric unit at Roanoke Memorial). Later in her career, Norma Jean worked as a private duty nurse and then as an in-charge nurse with Red Cross Blood Services. She retired after 15 years at Red Cross.
After 40 years at First Baptist Church in Roanoke, Norma Jean and John joined Bonsack Baptist Church and quickly became involved in the church's life and ministries.
Among her passions:
Travel: Norma Jean was determined to see and experience the world, visiting 42 states and 40 countries on five continents. She encouraged her children and her friends to travel while they were young. Her most adventurous trip was to Cuba in the late 1950's while Castro was in the mountains.
Figure skating: She never missed a figure skating broadcast, and she traveled to several figure skating competitions (Skate America in Atlantic City, Skate America in Lake Placid, Skate America in Detroit and the US Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro).
Singing: Norma Jean sang in choirs for six decades. Highlights included performing for the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas and a performance tour of Great Britain.
The family will receive friends from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at Oakey's East Chapel (5188 Cloverdale Road, Roanoke, VA 24019), on Saturday, April 5. A celebration of Norma Jean's life will follow at 10:00 am, also at Oakey's East.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the:
Kathy Markey Memorial Scholarship Fund
Emory & Henry University
Post Office Box 950
Emory, VA 24327-9905
Arrangements by Oakey's East Chapel, 540-977-3909.
Visitation
When: Saturday, April 5, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am
Location: Oakey's East Chapel
Address: 5188 Cloverdale Road
Roanoke,Va 24019
Service
When: Saturday, April 5, 2025 10:00am
Location: Oakey's East Chapel
Address: 5188 Cloverdale Road
Roanoke,Va 24019
She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, John Markey; her mother, Mattie Mozelle Stewart Martin; her father, William John Aden Martin; her daughter, Kathryn Jean Markey; her infant son, David Michael Markey; sisters, Vilma (Wilburn) Graves of Richmond, Frances (Gilbert) Wright of Lynchburg; and her brother John Martin of Roanoke.
She is survived by two sons, Jim (Renee) Markey of Roanoke and John Markey II of Daleville; four grandchildren, Lynsey (Zach) Schneider of Mammoth Lakes, California, Andrew (Melanie) Markey of Charlotte, Lauren (Erik) Amy of Lynchburg and Jourdan (Ben) Walker of Roanoke; eight great-grandchildren (Rilynn, Ivan, Lily, Bennett, Lucy, Charlie, Ella and Sullivan); sisters-in-law, Kathleen Greene of Roanoke and Betty Martin of Roanoke.
Born in Kernersville, North Carolina, Norma Jean was the youngest of four children. The family moved to Martinsville shortly after her birth, then to Vinton and eventually to Roanoke. As much as she loved Virginia, she took pride in having some 'tar' on her 'heel.'
Norma Jean attended Roland E. Cook Elementary School in Vinton. Her freshman and sophomore years were at William Byrd High School and her junior and senior years were at William Fleming High School. She has been an active member of the Golden Colonels for many years.
During her secondary school years, she took tap dancing lessons and piano lessons and learned how to play the mandolin. Her father, a shape notes singer, formed a number of singing groups in the area, and Norma Jean provided the piano accompaniment for all of them.
Norma Jean graduated from Roanoke Memorial Hospital School of Professional Nursing. Not yet ready to settle down, she checked the school's job board and saw just what she was looking for--RN jobs in a big hospital in a big city. She picked up the phone and called Columbia Presbyterian in New York City. At the end of the call, the interviewer asked her when she would be able to report for work.
Norma Jean spent a year in New York and she took full advantage of everything New York had to offer. Many of her patients were Broadway actors and actresses and they often provided free show tickets to hospital staff. Before returning to Roanoke, she worked one summer at Beverly Hospital in Beverly, Massachusetts. She worked the 11:00 pm to 7:00 am shift so she could spend her days exploring the beauty of New England. She began to develop an interest in psychiatric nursing and obtained additional training and experience at Sheppard Pratt in Towson, Maryland before returning to Roanoke. Her first nursing job in Roanoke turned out to be her favorite, as a nurse on 5th Floor Rehab (the psychiatric unit at Roanoke Memorial). Later in her career, Norma Jean worked as a private duty nurse and then as an in-charge nurse with Red Cross Blood Services. She retired after 15 years at Red Cross.
After 40 years at First Baptist Church in Roanoke, Norma Jean and John joined Bonsack Baptist Church and quickly became involved in the church's life and ministries.
Among her passions:
Travel: Norma Jean was determined to see and experience the world, visiting 42 states and 40 countries on five continents. She encouraged her children and her friends to travel while they were young. Her most adventurous trip was to Cuba in the late 1950's while Castro was in the mountains.
Figure skating: She never missed a figure skating broadcast, and she traveled to several figure skating competitions (Skate America in Atlantic City, Skate America in Lake Placid, Skate America in Detroit and the US Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro).
Singing: Norma Jean sang in choirs for six decades. Highlights included performing for the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas and a performance tour of Great Britain.
The family will receive friends from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at Oakey's East Chapel (5188 Cloverdale Road, Roanoke, VA 24019), on Saturday, April 5. A celebration of Norma Jean's life will follow at 10:00 am, also at Oakey's East.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the:
Kathy Markey Memorial Scholarship Fund
Emory & Henry University
Post Office Box 950
Emory, VA 24327-9905
Arrangements by Oakey's East Chapel, 540-977-3909.
Visitation
When: Saturday, April 5, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am
Location: Oakey's East Chapel
Address: 5188 Cloverdale Road
Roanoke,Va 24019
Service
When: Saturday, April 5, 2025 10:00am
Location: Oakey's East Chapel
Address: 5188 Cloverdale Road
Roanoke,Va 24019