Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NEWSOMS (Gum) – Norman Earl Porter, 88 passed peacefully on Feb. 12, 2024, in his home with his loving wife of 65 years, Edna Ree and family by his side. Norman was born in Newsoms on Cypress Bridge Road on Aug. 7, 1935 to the late Benjamin “Doll” Franklin Porter and Louise Catherine (Bryant) Porter.

Norman grew up in Newsoms and graduated from Newsoms

High School in 1953. He met Edna Ree in 1953 at Whiteway Cafe in Boykins and they dated until 1958 when they married on Oct. 25th. After working at the Cutchins Feed Store then the A&P he went to work at Union Camp right after Army National Guard basic training in Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Bliss, Texas. He served proudly from 1958 to 1964. He worked at Union Camp in automotive maintenance for 39 years and retired in 1997. In his teen years, he spent a lot of time at Mr. George Miles garage on Main Street in Newsoms learning auto and small engine repair. In 1978, he purchased the garage and renamed it Porter’s Garage. Norman is a lifelong member of the Newsoms United Methodist church serving as a trustee. He is also a founding member of the Newsoms Volunteer Fire Department.

Norman enjoyed building race cars that were raced at the Southampton Speedway in Branchville and his special car number was “947.” Every Sunday, during race season you could find Norman after church in his recliner watching a NASCAR race. He started the Newsoms Tractor pullers which stayed in existence for 20 plus years in which he won numerous lawn mower pulls. He loved to garden growing numerous fresh vegetables and was a beekeeper too. In his retirement years, his love for animals including his cat, Miss Kitty and bird watching became his hobby. He also enjoyed meeting up with his friends at Porter’s Garage and many concerts and dinners with friends. He looked forward to the summer visits with the grandkids and took them on go-cart and mini-bike rides and always loved sharing homemade ice cream with them too. He was one of the people who started the Newsoms 4th of July parade and he always enjoyed driving his 1949 Ford tractor and many times pulling a float with the grandkids on it. He is hoping that people will remember him as generous friend and a man of faith.

Left to cherish his memory is the love of his life, Edna Ree (Butler) Porter. They celebrated 65 years of marriage this past year. He is also survived by two daughters he called “sweet.” Norma Ree Harakas (Andrew) of Belmont, North Carolina and Renee Porter Lassiter (Clete) of Boykins; eight wonderful grandchildren and one great-grandson, Andrew Harakas (Ashley) and their son, Jaxon of Belmont, North Carolina. Chrysanthe Harakas Hill (Josh) of Rutherfordton, North Carolina, Alexander Harakas (Courtney) of Carmel, Indiana, Constantine Harakas of Belmont, North Carolina, Christopher Harakas of Belmont, North Carolina, Travis Porter Webster of Dallas, Texas, Madison Webster Byrne (Bradley) of Rockford, Michigan and Garrett Lassiter (Hope) of Boykins. He is also survived by his two sisters, Joyce Vick (Carroll) of Myrtle Beach and Linda Pulley of Virginia Beach and one brother-in-law Roy “Buddy” Butler (Betty) and several cousins, nephews and many close friends.

A celebration of life with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18th at Newsoms United Methodist Church and graveside service to follow at Hollywood Cemetary in Newsoms with Michael Baugham officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the social hall at Newsoms United Methodist Church.

Memorial donations can be made to Newsoms United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 245 Newsoms, VA 23874, Newsoms Fire Department P.O. Box 209 Newsoms, VA 23874 or Boykins Fire & Rescue at P.O. Box 347 Boykins, VA 23827. We would like to thank the staff of Perimeter Healthcare and Gentiva Hospice for their exceptional care.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org