Norma Day

The Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory of Blairsville announces Memorial Services for Mrs. Norma Hutcherson Day, age 92, who passed away peacefully in Blairsville, Georgia on January 11, 2017 in the Union County Nursing Home where she has received excellent and loving care for the past five years.

We celebrate the fully-lived and long life of Mrs. Day, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, Christian, world traveler, career woman, Democrat, bridge-player, theatre-lover, Braves fan.

Mrs. Day was born on February 10, 1924 in Saginaw, Texas, to Stanley Hutcherson and Cecile Freeman Hutcherson. She was a member of the "Gay Teens" Social Club, the friendships of which she maintained for many years. She starred in Abilene High School's production of Cyrano de Bergerac, beginning her long love of the performing arts and film. During her art studies at McMurry College, she met the love of her life, James Houston Day. On April 24,1942, the day he graduated from Advanced Pilot training, they were married at the First Methodist Church chapel in Phoenix, Arizona. Upon completing his service in the Army Air Corps, they moved to Atlanta, where James would be a pilot for Eastern Airlines for the rest of his career. Mrs. Day stayed busy raising four children, serving as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader. She also worked as a secretary, including as Executive Secretary to the Mayor of Atlanta, Sam Massell, from 1970-1974. Mrs. Day was pictured in a pantsuit in the Atlanta Journal in 1972 as the first woman "breaking the pants barrier" in City Hall. After her retirement at age 70, she moved to Blairsville, Georgia, where she enjoyed gardening, spending time with her grandchildren and participating in the Byron Herbert Reece Society. Another interest was travel, and Mrs. Day visited Greece, Mexico, France, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland, and Russia (St. Petersburg being her all-time favorite). She also loved history, current events, politics and of course, her favorite team, the Atlanta Braves. She and her husband James Day were founding members of Northside United Methodist Church in Atlanta. After transferring her membership to First United Methodist Church of Union County, she could always be spotted sitting close to the organ and enjoying the music.

Mrs. Day is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Debbie and Tighe Day-Lewis of Blairsville, Georgia; son and daughter-in-law Ken Day and Cindy Graham of Longview, Texas; daughter Jane Day of St. Simons Island, Georgia; brother and sister-in-law Don and Karen Hutcherson of Dallas, Texas; three nephews, one niece, five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband, James Houston Day, sister and brother-in-law Gwen and Don Everett and son Steve Day.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at First United Methodist Church of Union County with Pastor Mark Burgess officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Union County.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Cochran Funeral Home & Crematory of Blairsville.