Melba Maxine Norred, aged 76 years, passed away at her home in Dodson, Louisiana, on Saturday, September 21, 2024, due to complications of Parkinson's disease.

Our Grammy was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother.  Grampy says he can count on one hand the number of times she didn't have a lunch ready for him to take to work. She walked him to the door, handed him his lunchbox, and sent him off with a kiss, every day until he retired from the paper mill. When Bart, Nancy, and Sarah got off the school bus, there was a snack ready, and a meal was on the table every evening at supper time, complete with made-from-scratch biscuits or cornbread.  Her children were tucked into bed every night with a song, a prayer, and a goodnight kiss. Once the grandkids came along, Grammy became a dependable and frequent babysitter, keeping Ben, Hannah, and Noah on some weekdays, and Julie and Jonathan on Friday nights, making pancakes and bacon for them all every Saturday morning.

Over the years, Melba had many hobbies, including birdwatching. She spotted, identified, and listed every bird species native to Louisiana — even the elusive scissor-tailed flycatcher! She also enjoyed cooking, reading, sewing, painting, and photographing flowers and wildlife in her backyard garden, where she spent many hours tending to her favorite daylilies.

Melba was preceded in death by her first husband Ted D. Broomfield, brother Van Ray Weeks, father Floyd Weeks, mother Elizabeth Harris Weeks, and stepmother Marie Wade Weeks.

Those who cherish her memory include her husband of 56 years Charles Wayland Norred; children and spouses:  Bartlett Garrison Norred, Nancy Jane and Shawn Barnett, Sarah Amanda and Jason Jordan; grandchildren and spouses:  Benjamin Barnett, Hannah and Jade Thompson, Noah Barnett, Julie and Benjamin Carter, Jonathan and Jadynn Jordan; great-grandchildren Olivia Jade Thompson, Jason Corey Carter, and Miles Oliver Jordan; sisters Joan Shows and Nancy C. Dobson; stepsister Dorothy Brown, and stepbrothers Jimmy Breeland and George Breeland.

Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, September 26, 2024 in the chapel of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home from noon until time of service.  Funeral services are set to begin at 2:00PM with Bro. Jason Womack officiating.  Burial will follow in Gayla Traina Cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.

Serving the family as pallbearers will be Ben Barnett, Jonathan Jordan, Jade Thompson, Benjamin Carter, Noah Barnett and Marty Weeks.