John Lewis Norwood

HENDERSON- John L. Norwood, 94, of Henderson, passed away on July 27, 2026, and went home to be with the Lord surrounded by the love of his family. Born March 18, 1932, John was the son of the late Boley Alston Norwood and Julia Ann Owen Norwood. 

He graduated from Townsville High School in 1950 and went on to spend a year at Elon College before joining the U.S. Air Force in July 1951. He spent two years in training and then went to work with the National Security Agency in Washington, D.C. and Japan. John left the Air Force in July 1955 and went to work with Tungsten Mining Corp, attending Henderson Business School at night. In October 1957, he began working at McCracken Oil Company, where he built a career that would span decades. During this time, he joined the Henderson Jaycees and later the Henderson Kiwanis Club. He also joined the YMCA, where he served as treasurer for over 30 years.

John left McCracken Oil and joined Little River Corp on January 1, 1994, working there for 21 years before spending five more years at Rose Oil Company. A man of deep faith, John was a member of First Baptist Church in Henderson for over 40 years, serving as chairman of the deacons and as an usher for more than 30 years.

John married the love of his life, Virginia Morgan Norwood, and the two shared 68 and a half years together. He was preceded in death by Virginia in January 2022, his son-in-law Tim Harward in 2021, and his granddaughter Nell in 2002. 

John was famous around Henderson for being a dad to everybody. He loved coaching sports teams and having the neighborhood over for pickup basketball, football, soccer, whatever game was in season that day. Or hanging out at the lake with his kids and their friends. But more than anything, he loved watching his own family play. He never missed a game, not for his kids, not for his grandkids, and he made it out to watch his great-grandchildren play too. Cheering on his family from the sidelines was, without question, his favorite thing in the world. John loved Henderson, and everything about it especially the people. They treated him like family, and he wouldn’t have wanted to spend his time anywhere else in the world.

John is survived by his three children, Diane, Patricia, and Michael; his five grandchildren, Tracy, Chris, Will, Alston, and Grayson; and his two great-grandchildren, Preston and Nash.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church in Henderson, PO Box 75, Henderson, NC 27536 or Rock Spring Baptist Church, PO Box 96, Townsville, NC 27584.

John’s memorial service will be held on Saturday Aug. 8th at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church, by Dr. Ron Cava and Rev. Gary Brummitt. There will be a reception afterwards in the fellowship hall of the church that all are invited to attend.