From a wheelchair, Norma Padgett, now 86, the accuser of the Groveland Four, spoke publicly for the first time since 1952 when she testified in the retrial of Walter Irvin, who was convicted a. Weeks from his last moments on earth, when his heart would ultimately fail him, James Shepherd said he had heard Norma concede what hed known all along. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Philip Lee Padgett of Orleans, Indiana, born in Bedford, Indiana, who passed away on September 30, 2020, at the age of 66, leaving to mourn family and friends. From left, Sheriff Willis McCall, jailer Reuben Hatcher, Walter Irvin, Charles Greenlee and Samuel Shepherd, at the Lake County Jail in 1949. Her hugs could make a rainy day seem like a warm summer sunrise. She was the proud mother of Mark (Jayne) Handley, Melissa (James) Turner, Sheryl (Edward Steffes) Handley, Scott (Michele) Handley, stepmother to Pamela (Jeffery) Higgins and Rob (Debbie) Padgett. Norma and Bob were the proud owners of Willis Jewelers (now Zabler Jewelers) in Clarendon Hills where they built a thriving business by earning the trust of their customers with their integrity and standards of quality. The impact she had on others in this half-decade of service in her chosen profession is immeasurable. "But exonerate them of their crime [,] no.". Shed been texting them just minutes before, she said. Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice. Norma was born on March 25, 1936, the . Norma's family would like to thank her long-time caregivers Maria de la Luz Vasquez and Julie Nordeen for their care and their gift of dignity in Norma's waning years. You all just dont know what kind of horror Ive been through for all these many years. Shepherd built a modest six-room house and maintained a small farm with help from three sons and three daughters, while his wife Ida Mae had the best preserve cellar in the area. Henrys white neighbors tried to run Shepherd off his land. They were waiting for one incident.. She is survived by : her mother Annie Underwood Hunter; her husband Robert; her children, Lori Lee Ferrell (Randy) of Cornelius, NC, Robert Jeff Lee (Phyllis) of Arlington, VA, Lesley Lee Padgett of Cornelius, NC and Kirk Hunter Lee (Candace) of Flower Mound, TX; her grandchildren, Aaron, Chad Ferrell, Isabella, Alexis Lee, Lauren Padgett and Conner Lee; and her great grandchildren, Charlotte Lee and Peyton Ferrell. You cant change what happened, but you can clear our names. Holly High School in 1953. (NEA. . Norma and the man drove away. Comment Share B Brenda Nixon This is a carousel with slides. Thurgood Marshall then a lawyer working for the NAACP, later the first black justice on the Supreme Court took up their case and persuaded the Supreme Court that they had not received a fair trial and to order a new one. Carol Greenlee, daughter of Charles Greenlee, wept and fell into the arms of family members outside the courtroom. From Groveland.. That was a moment in time that I was supposed to be Shepherd died at the scene of a gunshot wound to the head. NORMA ROSE PADGETT, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. She was born May 27, 1940, in Jasper, Indiana to Carl W. and Thelma Margaret (Ritter) Miles. Norma added that she didnt much care for that nigger lawyer defending the Groveland Boys. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. She was predeceased by : her significant other Robert Babin Padgett; her parents, Melville Thornton and Mary "Beatrice" Thornton; and her siblings, Marion Ives (Thornton), Beatrice "Betty" McDaniel (Adford) and Reverend Melville Thornton. (The family is leaning towards the former but we cant be certain.) Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, What time is it on the moon? But a doctors examination of Padgett the morning after the alleged assault cast doubt on her rape accusations. But, if the need ever arose, she would have led the firemen into the burning building. The sheriff picked up the two men at the state prison to drive them back to Lake County for the retrial. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Rumor has it that God was so impressed with Normas prayers, He promoted her to His A team. We are talking endless love, world-class hugs, sidesplitting funny songs and prayer with an amazing track record. Hes also in favor of some type of recognition of the past. All have preceded her in joining God. Others say God brought her upstairs to stop her from pestering him with her persistent prayers. Marshall, convinced that the jury would once again convict, and convinced that the judge would once again sentence his client to death, urged Irvin to accept the plea. Rogersville, PA, 15359. Honor a loved one by planting trees in their memory. Despite what the doctors had said, she knew there was still strength in James Shepherds heart. Lori Lee Ferrell (Randy) of Cornelius, NC, Robert Jeff Lee (Phyllis) of Arlington, VA, Lesley Lee Padgett of Cornelius, NC and Kirk Hunter Lee (Candace) of Flower Mound, TX; her . Once he was finished, poor white farmers took advantage of the now desirable tracts of rich Florida soil and purchased the lots around Shepherd at bargain prices, leading to an unexpected breakdown in residential segregation in south Lake County. The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19, Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process, Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. Norma spent her life helping others as a faithful servant of the Lord, nursing the sick. In his remaining time in office, Scott never did. All my life Ive felt as if a cloud hung over me, she said later. Observers assumed it was for appearances sake in courtto present the image of a happy young farm couple whose lives were shattered by four black savages. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). He did not rape Norma Padgett, and he wasnt going to say he did, even if the state of Florida agreed to spare him from the electric chair. The pain was too great, and like so many victims of racial terror and brutality in the Jim Crow South, the Shepherds remained silent, not wanting to poison their own childrens hearts with stories of hatred. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Vivian Shepherd didnt need to ask her mother what happened next. Can we count on your support today? Then, Alene said something curious. She picked up some yogurt in the cafeteria, quickly ate it, and then rushed back up to the fourth floor, where guards told her that the legislative session had already commenced. We just want closure and not push it aside anymore, she said. It happened, Vivian said. The county named a road for him in the late 1980s but renamed it in 2007, 13 years after his death at age 84. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Lee James Padgett, age 66, of Athens, Georgia, formerly of West Columbia, SC, passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2022. On Friday, in one of the first acts of newly elected Florida Gov. Norma started life as it ended - sincerely loved by all around her. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Norma stayed married to Willie Padgett through both of the Groveland trials. Then hed made up his mind. Norma was honored by the City of Ogden for her work with children. Hes also a sign of Mexicos healthcare crisis, Bola Tinubu, the declared winner of Nigerias presidential election, appeals for unity, A 5,000-year-old restaurant highlights Iraqs archaeological renaissance, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, Fiery Greece train collision kills 32, injures at least 85, Column: Supreme Court conservatives may want to block student loan forgiveness. Failed to remove flower. Greenlee, who had survived the longest, almost lived to see it. Samuel Shepherd in his coffin in November 1951. Try again. She asked her father about him, but he never wanted to talk. 11, 2019. We are confident she would love seeing a smile on your face as you read her obituary. Fred joined God on February 1, 2013. Ron DeSantis and his Cabinet, Padgett spoke from a wheelchair, pleading with the panel, Im begging you all not to give them pardon because they done it.. Several attempts were made, through previously cooperative family members, to contact Norma for a comment on the state of Floridas apologies to the families of the Groveland Boys, as well as on the Shepherds story of her visit to their home in Clermont. Yet despite the FBIs forensic evidence of murder and attempted murder, a Lake County judge refused to impanel a grand jury, and a U.S. Attorney in Tampa was unmoved to investigate the sheriff. Normas family came to Utah in 1936 to escape the depression when all mining shut down in Oklahoma. 2022, Obituary.Memorial. Please try again later. Verify and try again. Norma was sternly warned to never again discuss the case. McCall managed to hold the mob at bay, but they returned to Groveland and began burning black homes to the ground. Google shows our ads across third party sites across the internet to help communicate our message and reach the right people who have shown interest in our information in the past. LeRoy Collins: if Walter Irvin pleaded guilty to rape, the state would agree to spare his life. Telephone: 724-499-5181. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. All have preceded her in joining God. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two siblings, William Boyd Padgett and Norma Lee Padgett. He started at The Times in 1980 and left in 1995 to be sports editor of the Chicago Tribune and Tribune Co. sports coordinator in 2002. Irvin was eventually retried, convicted and again sentenced to death. She did this on a Lutheran mission post in New Guinea, and as a nurse in several cities in Kansas, Missouri, and New Jersey. She was predeceased by : her father Vance Hunter. It would be another 62 years before the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill formally apologizing to the Groveland families--an act that was repeated one week later, unanimously again, in the Florida Senate. The Klansmen came looking to kill my whole family, Vivian Shepherd said. Norma Hunter Lee, 86, passed away peacefully, on Monday, January 31, 2022, surrounded by her family. Norma was nurtured by God's Word and Sacrament all the days of her life and is now with the Lord Jesus forever; John 14:1-3. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Norma . His next book, "Beneath a Ruthless Sun", will be published by Riverhead Books in 2018. Condolences may be sent to the family at: Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. After a felony sexual assault charge in Orlando, he was in and out of jail on charges from fraud, to vehicle theft, to a sex offense with another minor in Miami. She made good time, and after finding a parking space near the Florida Capitol Complex in Tallahassee, she rushed toward the House Office Building. Let the family know you are thinking of them. Norma is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mathilda Hauschild, son Philip Padgett, daughter Rachel Padgett, brothers Carl and Earl Hauschild, and sister Dorothy Weaks. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Two other young men were named by authorities, who described them as known troublemakers. Padgett, now 89, declined her right to appear at the proceeding and present evidence or testimony, said State Attorney William Gladson, who provided the judge with newly discovered evidence to bolster the request for exoneration of the men. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Within hours, Samuel Shepherd and Walter Irvin, 22-year-old childhood friends and army buddies from Groveland, were arrested, taken into the basement beneath the Lake County jail, and severely beaten by deputies. Then in 2013, the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction went to the author Gilbert King for his account of the saga, Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America.. Search above to list available cemeteries. Heaven claimed one of its angels on earth with the passing of Norma Faye (Hauschild) Padgett on October 12, 2020, when she succumbed to congestive heart failure in Dallas, Texas. Knowing that youre behind us means so much. Norma dropped the Padgett name, the couple divorced in 1958, and she remarried to another Lake County man a few years later. Word spread that some young black men in Groveland had raped a white woman, and a heavily armed mob of klansmen, accompanied by Willie Padgett and Normas father, Coy Tyson, showed up outside the Lake County jail. Walter Irvin was given a few weeks to recover from his gunshot wounds so that he could once again stand trial for the rape of Norma Padgett. Resend Activation Email. She and Fred adored each other. When the explosive three-part story was published in the spring of 1950, both McCall and the prosecutor, Jesse Hunter were livid. 3275 W. Roy Furman Hwy. Two years ago, the Groveland City Council made a proclamation apologizing for what happened to the four men. They had to run for their lives, spending days hiding in the orange groves and never returning home again and moving to Orlando. The exhibit is housed in the same building as the sheriffs department, where one wall features portraits of all the former sheriffs, including McCall. In 1951, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his sons guilty verdict, calling the trial and its surrounding atmosphere one of the worst menaces to American justice, Sheriff Willis McCall decided to personally transport the defendants from Raiford prison back to Lake County for the retrial. Irvin also said two of the families have one more fight looming. 0 cemeteries found in Davenport, Polk County, Florida, USA. There was an error deleting this problem. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. He told his wife that shed come to talk about his brother, Sam. Lee was born February 16, 1956. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Norma Padgett to pay them a last tribute. Make sure that the file is a photo. Until then, Gladson said he was prepared to draft a remorseful and sympathetic letter to the families closing the case. Learn more about managing a memorial . After finishing nursing school, she married the love of her life Robert in 1957. ORLANDO, Fla. A judge Monday restored the constitutional right to presumption of innocence for the Groveland Four, granting a prosecutors motion to throw out indictments and convictions that ruined the lives of the four Black men accused seven decades ago of raping a 17-year-old white girl. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. The. Hein would like to organize community discussions about the Groveland Four, but not have them run by city government. There were venomous, shameful words that followed the Shepherd nieces and nephews through their school years and beyondsmears that resonated for decades. Vivian Shepherd wasnt the only one who hadnt heard this sordid piece of local history. Go to funeral home website to view original page. They demanded that Sheriff McCall release the prisoners to them for what was certain to be a lynching. Age 85, of Buford, passed away July 10, 2019. You could put markers where some of the incidents took place. Many people in Normas life patients, parishioners, and family - said she was a saint of God. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Timothy Roberson officiated the service. She worked at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis upon graduation where she met her husband, Reverend Stanley Delton Padgett, who was attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. The couple separated after just six months; Norma moved back home with her parents who also lived down the road from the Shepherds. You can try and keep dirt on top of it and keep it hidden from the public, but youll eventually start to smell it.. 4920 Main Street Downers Grove, IL NORMA PADGETT OBITUARY Norma Rose Padgett (nee Thornton) age 99 3/4, went home to her Heavenly Father on July 1, 2022. The state of Florida was wrong, and were sorry, DuBose told them. For Willie Padgett proved Normas daddy right about one thing. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two siblings, William Boyd Padgett and Norma Lee Padgett. She is survived by : her children, Mark Handley (Jayne), Melissa Turner (James), Sheryl Handley (Edward Steffes) and Scott Handley (Michele); and her step-children, Pamela Higgins (Jeffery) and Rob Padgett (Debbie). By 1998, Willie was dead, as was Norma's second husband (whose surname she uses today), and the 66-year-old widow was still living in Groveland. Rogersville, PA, 15359. Norma was a member of the Gentryville United Methodist Church. November 22, 2021., 321 N. 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