Norma Henderson Hinkle Obituary

Norma Claire Henderson Hinkle passed away on June 26, 2025, at the age of 90. Norma was the only child of Foyce (Slim, Pop) Henderson and Irene Stewart Henderson. She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty years, Charles Grady Hinkle, whom she married just after she graduated from Camp Hill High School in 1953. Her father died in 1964 and her mother in 2004. She is survived by her daughter, Nancy C. Hinkle of Athens, Georgia, and her son Robert D. Hinkle (husband Bryan Conley) of Palm Coast, Florida. Norma has two grandchildren, Lauren Hinkle (husband Dan Tillberg) of Longmont, Colorado, and Jonathan Hinkle of Portland, Oregon. Norma has two great-grandchildren, Ramona (age 6) and Margo (age 3) Hinkberg of Longmont, Colorado.
Norma was born in the Pine Grove community outside of Camp Hill and Dadeville, Alabama, March 30, 1935. As a child of the Great Depression, she was always thankful for everything she had in life, so much so that she, like her grandmother Lizzy Henderson (Tizzy to the family), perhaps held on to things most people would have long ago discarded. She and Tizzy are responsible for the family saying, "It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it." With her being such an inspiration, some family members still live by that creed to this day.
Norma was a longtime member of Pine Grove Baptist Church, serving as the church pianist for many years. She was a member of Pine Grove until the church closed, then moved her membership to Camp Hill Baptist Church. She was a working wife and mother, serving as secretary, bookkeeper, shipping clerk, and Girl Friday to Charles at their business, Adcap Manufacturing Company in Camp Hill. She was also a farmer's wife, driving the truck for hauling baled hay to the barn, helping herd and separate cows to take to the cattle auction, fetching tractor and farm implement parts, and taking water and food to the field so Charles wouldn't have to "waste time" coming to the house to eat. She raised her southern family right, usually making a gallon of sweet tea every day.
Later in life, when there was a need for a local EMT squad in the area, she stepped up to the plate and became a certified Emergency Medical Technician with EMTACT 6 to serve her local community – much to the amazement of her teenage kids! Then much later in life as her mother and Aunt Vivian (Bibba to anyone who really knew her) became homebound, she served as their primary caregiver until their deaths in 2004. She was a very selfless and caring individual.
Norma had a love for people and animals. She was always the one to keep up with family matters (weddings, births, deaths, etc.), friends (always attending class reunions), planning and preparing for community gatherings, and being a part of all church events. Though our family only had yard cats and dogs growing up, once the kids left home she had indoor cats which Charles initially hated, until one of the cats chose Charles as her favorite. After Charles' death, her cats gave her much needed companionship.
Norma suffered from early-onset dementia in her later years, spending her final years in a memory ward at a retirement home in Athens, Georgia, near her daughter, Nancy.
Norma Hinkle outlived many of her contemporaries, but her reputation lives on to those who knew her as a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
As an empty nester, she always was filled with joy when family returned for a visit, but when time came for them to leave, she always filled with sadness at their departure, her eyes welling up and shedding a few tears. Goodbye, Miss Norma; it's our turn to shed a few tears.
Visitation will be held Friday evening, June 27, 6-8 p.m., at Langley Funeral Home, 21837 Highway 280, Camp Hill, AL 36850. The funeral will be conducted by Rev. Jeff Hardin in the Langley Funeral Home Chapel from 11 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Surviving members of the Camp Hill High School Class of 1953 will serve as Honorary Pallbearers. Camp Hill Baptist WMU will host a luncheon reception at their Fellowship Hall (across US 280 from Langley Funeral Home) following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to Camp Hill Baptist Church, PO Box 307, Camp Hill, AL 36850-0307.