A service to celebrate and remember her life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church officiated by the Rev. Patricia Stone. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Francis Forde. Jr., Henry Forde, Elbert “Nub” Forde, and Jack Forde; and two sisters, Pompie “Flip” Scott and Mary Palmer Forde. She is survived by nieces and nephews.
Born Jan. 25, 1920 in Laurinburg, she was a daughter of the late Francis Fulton and Willa Beacham Forde.
Norma could best be described as a Laurinburg institution. Along with her sisters and Carrie Lee Hennigan, they operated Miss Forde’s Coffee Shop (commonly known as Norma’s) at the corner of Church and Main Streets in Laurinburg for about 40 years. Serving meals that initially cost 25 cents, by the time they closed in 1983 inflation has pushed the cost to 75 cents. Their typical meal consisted of a choice of meat, three choices of vegetables, roll, and ice tea. A book, “Road Food” published in the 1970’s listed their restaurant as one of the 10 best and most unique eateries in America. They also baked wedding and birthday cakes for thousands, with one of their specialties being the four foot long train cake.
Norma also had 79 years of perfect Sunday school attendance at the First United Methodist Church.
Memorials are requested for the First United Methodist Church, 101 W. Church St., Laurinburg, NC 28352, Hospice at P.O. Box 1033, Laurinburg, NC 28353 or Church Community Services, 108 S. Gill St., Laurinburg, NC 28352.
McDougald Funeral Home and Crematorium is serving the family.
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