Marva Norwood

Marva Gwendolyn "Gwen" Norwood transitioned this life on Monday, June 25, 2012, after a brief illness.Born in Kingsport, Tenn., on Feb. 21, 1932 and graduate of Douglass High School, she was a homemaker raising five children. She started the integration movement in Kingsport with her daughter Marva integrating the first school. She was a Cub Scout den mother, and always had an interest in working with youth. She was "adopted mother" to many, and longtime active member of Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church in Kingsport before relocating to Chattanooga in 1982. She was a member of the following churches in Chattanooga: Thompkins Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, New Covenant Fellowship Church and Transforming Faith Baptist Church. She enjoyed people, always had a smile and loved by many.She was preceded in death by her husband, T.C. Norwood Sr.; her parents Jack and Lena Burnette; brother, Winford Burnette; and sisters, Phyllis Jackson, Annette Johnson and Jacqueline Hicks.She is survived by her five children, Donna (Howard) Roddy, Thomas C. (Tina) Norwood Jr.,, Kathryn Norwood, Marva (Richard) Campbell, all of Chattanooga, and Jeri Norwood, Nashville. Sisters include Shirley (Wallace) Powers, Chattanooga, Deborah Malone, Kingsport; and brother, Major Allen Burnette, Newark, Del.; and a devoted cousin, Carmen Jackson, of Smithfield, Va.; grandchildren include Howard C. Roddy, Nashville, John (Christy), Roddy, Chattanooga, Tonya (Johnny) Jetton, Nashville, Thomas C. (Jimarra) Norwood III, Charleston, S.C.; four great-grandchildren, Dean, Grant and Kayli Roddy and Maya Norwood; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 30 for one hour prior to noon celebration of life services at New Covenant Fellowship Church, 1326 N. Moore Road. Graveside services will be held at Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City, Tenn., at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 2.The body will lie in state from noon6 p.m. on Friday, June 29, at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 622-9995.