Mrs. Hester Norman Rankins was born on November 11, 1957 to Mr. Haywood Norman, Sr. and the late Willie Mae Simpson Norman. She departed this life December 15, 2012 at Washington County Hospital.

She graduated from Plymouth High School in 1976. After high school, she began her career as a care giver employed at Britthaven Nursing Home in Edenton, NC for several years. It was there she met the love of her life, Mr. James L. Rankins in 1987.

Following a brief courtship, she was united in Holy Matrimony on April 28, 1989 and was a devoted wife for 23 years. Even though she never had children of her own, she had plenty of nieces and nephews to spoil and shower her love upon. She truly loved all children.

She worked in home health with Silver Care until her passing. She attended College of the Albemarle where she received her certification as a CNA-1 and Martin Community College where she received certification as a CNA-II. She continued her education at Martin and earned certification in Phlebotomy.

Those preceding her in death include one sister, Josephine Norman Spruill, three brothers, William Earl Norman, Elder Irvin Chesson and James Chesson.

She leaves to cherish her memories her husband- James L. Rankins- Edenton, NC; father- Haywood Norman, Sr.-Plymouth; four brothers- Haywood Norman, Jr.- Plymouth, David Norman (Vanessa)-Elizabeth City, NC, Ronnie Norman (Judy)- Windsor, NC, Ricky Norman (Vivian)-Roper,NC; two sisters- Emma Clagon (Alton)- Roper,NC, Evelyn Norman- Plymouth, two aunts, two uncles, four sister-in-law, six brothers-in-law, along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, and one special friend, Mr. Grant Small.

Funeral services were held 1:30PM Saturday December 22, 2012 at Toodle's Chapel with Reverend Ronnie Norman, eulogist. Burial followed in Simpson Family Cemetery, Cross Road, Roper, NC.