Norris Wayne Ramsey Sr

Norris Wayne Ramsey, Sr.

Norris Wayne Ramsey, Sr., born on February 16, 1939, passed away peacefully on

Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Hickory Hill Retirement Home in Burkeville, Virginia. He

leaves his wife of 63 years, Bonnie Morrison Ramsey of Farmville, Virginia, his daughter,

Melody Ann Ramsey of Farmville, Virginia, and his son, Norris Wayne Ramsey, Jr. of Farmville,

Virginia. He was preceded in death by his father, Herbert Warner Ramsey of Brookneal,

Virginia, and his mother, Josie Trent Ramsey of Brookneal, Virginia.

Like his father, Herbert, Norris owned and operated a lumber business in Charlotte County for

most of his adult life. He valued his employees and met many friends through his business.

After retiring, he enjoyed time with his family and friends. He was entertaining to be around –

he never met a stranger and loved telling stories and making people laugh. He was a loving

husband and father, and family was very important to him. He also enjoyed time with friends,

especially childhood and lifelong friends Haywood Hamlett, the late Darwin Mason, and

Reginald White, all from Charlotte County; Buddy Booker, James Williams and the late Billy

Guthrie, all from Brookneal, Virginia; Ralph Scott of the Red House community, and Bob

Chapman of Farmville, Virginia.

A 1957 graduate of Randolph Henry High School in Charlotte Court House, Norris was an

outstanding athlete. He lettered in four sports – baseball, basketball, football and track.

Baseball was his favorite, and he was known for being a left-handed pitcher with a wicked

curve ball. He attended Hargrave Military Academy as a postgraduate student, then attended

Virginia Tech. In his later years, he enjoyed telling stories about his “glory days” on the

baseball team, listening to music (“Ave Maria” was his favorite song, but he was also a big fan

of classical and bluegrass music as well as traditional hymns), traveling to Florida on golf and

family trips, watching sports on television, helping people, and being with his beloved dogs.

Anyone who knew Norris knew Sebastian, Otis, and Bandit, who were his loyal companions.

The family wishes to thank all of those who provided medical care to Norris through the past

five years, including the staff of Hickory Hill Retirement Community, Southside Community

Hospital, Centra Hospice, and James River Hospice. We are grateful for their dedication and

support. We also want to extend our appreciation to our friends, neighbors, and relatives for

their support and prayers during this time.

Memorial gifts can be made in memory of Norris Ramsey to the Southside SPCA, PO Box 66,

Meherrin, Virginia 23954.

A private graveside service was held Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Midway Baptist

Church in the “Old Well” community near Phenix, Virginia, officiated by Rev. Chris Kesler and

Pastor Michael Teixeira. Puckett Funeral Home in Farmville assisted the family with

arrangements.

Norris’ outlook on life can be summed up best with the following quote by Henry Drummond: “I

shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any

kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it,

for I shall not pass this way again.”