Norvell McPoland

Mountain Brook

Norvell McPoland, age 92, of Mountain Brook passed away on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, surrounded by her family. She was born on Dec. 9, 1919, in Birmingham. Norvell was the youngest child of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Bryant (Mary Hawes Norvell) McCormack Jr., of Birmingham. She was the granddaughter of the late George B. McCormack, who was one of the pioneers of Birmingham’s steel and coal industry and a founder of TCI and Pratt Coal.

Norvell is survived by her daughter, Mary Norvell “Molly” Peeples (David) of Montevallo; daughter-in-law Susanne Kelly McPoland of Grand Bay; and sister-in-law Margaret Palmer McPoland of Jasper. She is also survived by four granddaughters, to whom she was their beloved “Granny Dear,” Tammy Phillips (Don) of Greenville, S.C., Holly Smith (Hugh) of Birmingham, Lacey (Tim) Calvert of Auburn and Michael McPoland of Mobile, as well as seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to her late parents, Norvell was preceded in death by her son, Michael Bryant McPoland of Grand Bay, and her siblings: George Bryant “G.B.” McCormack III, Leonora Norvell McCormack and Peyton Norvell McCormack, all of Birmingham, and Mary Norvell McCormack of Jasper.

Norvell grew up in Glen Iris Park in Birmingham and attended Ramsey High School and Miss Howard’s School for Girls. Norvell’s life was full of many varied interests. She enjoyed bird watching, flowers and music. She had a love for reading, especially the Bible and her daily devotionals. She enjoyed taking trips to the beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, with a special love for Fort Walton Beach. Norvell had a great interest in and knowledge of Native American artifacts, jewelry and culture. She was also a skilled artist, a talent she inherited from her mother.

The family would like to extend special appreciation to her loving caregivers, Erica Huff and Maxine Steen, as well as Raven Norfleet and Brenda Alexander.

Graveside services were held at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to Southeastern Bible College, 2545 Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL 35244-2083, and Navajo Ministries, P.O. Box 1230, Farmington, NM 87499.