Aug. 11, 1919 –

Oct. 12, 2012

Norman Julian Maxwell, 93, passed away Oct. 12, 2012. He went to be with the Lord and join his forever sweetheart, Virginia F. Maxwell, as she passed one year plus one day prior.

Mr. Maxwell was born on Aug. 11, 1919, at home on the family farm, south of Whigham, Ga. He was the son of Norman Ivan and Callie Rachel Barber Maxwell, both from pioneer families in the area.

He enjoyed the game of baseball and continued to play with community teams as a young adult. He continued to be an avid baseball fan. As a young adult, he also enjoyed fishing in the rivers.

He often talked of driving the family’s 1927 T-model, at the age of 13, to school in Whigham, transporting six other students. All the roads were dirt, except U.S. Highway 84 had just been paved. The next year there were school buses.

He graduated from Whigham High School. On Nov. 18, 1938, he married his high school sweetheart, Virginia Foster Maxwell. To this union were born three children: Mary Maxwell Mobley, of Whigham, N. Julian Maxwell Jr. (wife, Diana), of Forest Glade, Tenn., and Jimmy Foster Maxwell (wife, Kathy), of Whigham. He had five grandchildren, David D. Mobley Jr., Michael L. Mobley, Paul K. Mobley, Kimberly A. Maxwell and A. Jerod Maxwell, as well as two great-grandchildren, Alexander Julian Mobley and Haley Elizabeth Maxwell.

He was a farmer that blazed trails in several facets of planting and cultivation. He took pride in being the first in his area to plant a crop with a tractor. Many farmer friends often came and rode with him to experience the “new way” of farming. In later years, he leased most of his farmland but continued to mow, spray, fertilize, and harvest his 30-acre pecan orchard through age 91. He had an exceptionally-giving heart and annually shared pecans with his many friends.

He was a history buff and was blessed with an exceptional memory. He was a great story teller, often recalling amusing events during his lifetime. Some stories were repeated numerous times, never altering one word.

In the late 60s, he enjoyed hunting rattlesnakes for the Round Up. One year he caught the most snakes in one hole — 13 in one hole, and for two consecutive years he caught the largest snake.

He was instrumental in the promotion process to pave Tired Creek Road and Attapulgus-Whigham Road. He was a member of the Whigham United Methodist Church in Whigham.

Mr. Maxwell was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Virginia Elizabeth Foster Maxwell; parents, Norman Ivan and Callie Barber Maxwell; sisters: Bernice M. Harrison, Alma M. Fewell, and Louise M. Stalvey.

A celebration of his life will take place at the Chapel of Clark Funeral Home on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Randy Ray officiating. The vocalist will be Rev. Larry Martin.

The family will greet friends at Clark’s following the memorial service. He will be laid to rest in the family plot at Woodlawn Cemetery located in Whigham.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made Butler Cemetery Fund, C/O Beth Rodgers, 201 Farmers Branch Road, Whigham, GA, 39897.

Clark Funeral Home of Cairo is in charge of the arrangements.