Norma Jean Murphy Everett

Norma Jean Everett, 82, of Dothan, Alabama died on October 10, 2023, at Washington County Nursing Home, in Chipley Florida. Jean was born on July 20, 1941, to Donald and Valeria Murphy in Midland City, Alabama.

Jean graduated from Midland City High School in 1959. Jean was very active in high school using her love of writing and literature as the Editor of the Yearbook and the role of Emily in the production of Our Town. Her beauty was not only inside as she was crowned Miss Midland City and elected Homecoming Queen. In 2018, at the age of 77, she completed her lifelong goal of graduating from Troy State University with a degree in English.

Jean married Jerald Davis Everett on January 1, 1960. They built a family welcoming first a daughter, Elisa Kim, then sons Mark Todd and Michael Ashley. Jean devoted her life to raising her family. Jean and Jerald built their first home next door to her parents and for her entire life she lived no further than a few hundred feet from where she grew up. Summers were filled with the beauty of flowers she and her mother grew, canning vegetables, and taking her children swimming. She shared with her children the wonders of her childhood around Murphy Mill Pond, the surrounding woodlands, and fishing in the pond. Every Christmas included an adventure walking through those woodlands to find the perfect cedar tree which would become the family Christmas Tree.

Despite her feminine and refined nature, she was a force to be reckoned with on her church softball team. Her competitive streak showed a different side of her to opposing teams. She played shortstop with ferocity and could always be counted on when it came her turn to bat.

Jean worked alongside her family in Everett Construction Company. She got to know all of her customers personally and maintained friendships with many. She was well respected in the community for her compassion, honesty, and fairness. Her retirement party could barely hold all the people who wanted to come wish her well. Jean was a rarity in this day and age, a true Southern lady who was unfailingly kind to all those around her. She was intently interested in the people she met and lived by philosophy of “know someone’s story.” She lived a life of grace, extending her home and hospitality to any and all who wanted or needed her special brand of acceptance and welcome. Jean maintained friendships of 50, 60, 70 years receiving some of those friends as visitors up until weeks before her passing.

Jean leaves behind her three children: Kim Martin (Mike), Mark Everett (Leslie), and Michael Everett (Aimee). Her three beloved grandchildren, David Michael Martin, Catherine Elaine Everett, and Jonathan Davis Everett. Her beloved Nephew Kent McCallister, Niece Kay Elaine Hartsfield (Jim) and grandnephew Brandon Hartsfield (Cailey) and great-grandnephew Henry.

Jean was predeceased by her former husband and life-long love Jerald Everett, her parents, Donald and Valeria Murphy, her sister and brother-in-law Janice and Robert McCallister.

The family wishes to express its gratitude to Nate and Lakeshia Barley, Jean’s dear friends and neighbors. Nate treated Jean like his own mother, checking on her frequently, celebrating birthdays, and going above and beyond what anyone could ask of a good friend. And continuing gratitude to Ruby Thomas our dear family friend who cared for Jean for many months and continues to this day to be a friend to us all.

Robert and Toni Byrd · Sunset Memorial Park

1700 Barrington Rd, Midland City AL · (334) 983-6604