Louise Norton Eady
Louise Norton was born in Jacksonville, Florida and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1956. She attended Wesleyan College for two years and went on to get her B.A. degree in sociology from the University of Florida in 1960. She then moved to Atlanta and worked as a social worker with children in foster care for the Fulton County Department of Family and Children’s Services until 1963.
That same year, Louise married Virgil Y. C. Eady, Jr. and moved to Oxford, Georgia, Virgil’s life-long home. Louise assisted her husband in running insurance and real estate businesses while raising their three children, Jonathan, Ginger, and David. She was also active in the Newton County Mental Health Association, served as an officer in the Junior Women’s Club, and was a Cub Scout den mother.
In 1977, Louise earned her masters of librarianship from Emory University and worked briefly at Emory’s Woodruff Library before attending Georgia State University to earn her teaching certificate in 1978. She then worked as a school librarian and media specialist for the Newton County School System at Livingston Elementary School for three years and at East Newton Elementary School for 20 years before retiring in 2001.
After retirement, Louise served as secretary to the Oxford Trees, Parks, and Recreation Board from 2000 to 2010. During her tenure there, she worked on many community projects, including the establishment of the George Street Park in Oxford. Louise continued her dedication to education by serving on the board of directors of Newton County READS, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization teaching adult literacy and GED preparation. She also was a regular volunteer at Palmer-Stone School, helping in the library and with other school and PTO activities.
A life-long history enthusiast, Louise has served as secretary of the Oxford Historical Shrine Society since 2004 and puts her research and archival skills to work as the custodian of the Norton and the Eady/Stone family historical records and artifacts. Louise’s knowledge and expertise have made her an invaluable asset to other historians and authors, such as Mark Auslander, author of The Accidental Slaveholder, and Erik Blackburn Oliver, author of Cornerstone and Grove and Images of America: Oxford. Most recently, Louise has served as chairman of the Oral Histories Committee on the City of Oxford’s 175th Anniversary Commemorative Project.
Louise is a dedicated member of the Allen Memorial United Methodist Church and serves as church historian. She is also on its administrative council and is an active member of a United Methodist Women’s Circle.
That same year, Louise married Virgil Y. C. Eady, Jr. and moved to Oxford, Georgia, Virgil’s life-long home. Louise assisted her husband in running insurance and real estate businesses while raising their three children, Jonathan, Ginger, and David. She was also active in the Newton County Mental Health Association, served as an officer in the Junior Women’s Club, and was a Cub Scout den mother.
In 1977, Louise earned her masters of librarianship from Emory University and worked briefly at Emory’s Woodruff Library before attending Georgia State University to earn her teaching certificate in 1978. She then worked as a school librarian and media specialist for the Newton County School System at Livingston Elementary School for three years and at East Newton Elementary School for 20 years before retiring in 2001.
After retirement, Louise served as secretary to the Oxford Trees, Parks, and Recreation Board from 2000 to 2010. During her tenure there, she worked on many community projects, including the establishment of the George Street Park in Oxford. Louise continued her dedication to education by serving on the board of directors of Newton County READS, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization teaching adult literacy and GED preparation. She also was a regular volunteer at Palmer-Stone School, helping in the library and with other school and PTO activities.
A life-long history enthusiast, Louise has served as secretary of the Oxford Historical Shrine Society since 2004 and puts her research and archival skills to work as the custodian of the Norton and the Eady/Stone family historical records and artifacts. Louise’s knowledge and expertise have made her an invaluable asset to other historians and authors, such as Mark Auslander, author of The Accidental Slaveholder, and Erik Blackburn Oliver, author of Cornerstone and Grove and Images of America: Oxford. Most recently, Louise has served as chairman of the Oral Histories Committee on the City of Oxford’s 175th Anniversary Commemorative Project.
Louise is a dedicated member of the Allen Memorial United Methodist Church and serves as church historian. She is also on its administrative council and is an active member of a United Methodist Women’s Circle.