Norma Jean Hunter was born in Sparkman, Arkansas on January 12, 1943, to parents of Jettie Hunter and Bertha M. Lock. Norma was the second oldest of 3 siblings Margaret Clark, Algerine Clark and Emma Hill, both preceded her in death.
Norma was a very shy, but gentle girl devoted to her mother eventually went on to graduate from Peake High School in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and moved to Santa Ana, California in 1962. Norma met Alvis Sykes in 1962 and to that union three daughters were born Adrienne, Sheryl, and Lola.
Norma worked in the aerospace industry for 37 years and retired from Boeing in 2009. After she retired, she lovingly accepted the challenge of helping to raise her one and only grandson. In addition, she continued being active at her church Johnson Chapel AME in Santa Ana. Ca, where she served as a missionary, a board trustee and on the church hospitality committee. Norma enjoyed going to Sunday school, dressing in African attire, and going to many social events. She especially loved going back to Arkansas to reunite with her high school classmates on a regular basis.
Norma was such an awesome mother who worked so tirelessly raising her daughters and being a surrogate mother to her nieces, and nephews. Everyone loved ‘Auntie Norma’. Norma was truly a good person inside and out to family and friends and this attribute was cherished by many. She treated everyone with respect and dignity.
Her greatest gift was her God given ability to have compassion, warmth, and kindness to those who are downtrodden and or sick/shut in. This legacy is so deeply engrained in her children and may we all strive to continue her legacy.
Her memory will be cherished by her spouse Alvis Sykes; 3 daughters, Adrienne Morris, Sheryl Sykes and Lola Brown; 1 sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Alvin Alaman; 2 sons-in law Michael and Chester (CJ); 3 grandchildren, Simone, Kyle, and Karis; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Norma Jean Sykes, please visit our floral store.