Nora Hitte-Hammons, 91, of Cleveland, Tn., died Wednesday, April 11, 2012 in a local health care facility.
She was a homemaker for most of her life, but was the founder and manager of the Campus Store at Lee University. She retired from there in 1983 after 13 years of service. Mrs. Hammons was a charter member of Westmore Church of God, but was later a member of Crosspointe Church of God in Dalton, GA where she resided before returning to Cleveland. During her years in Dalton she opened her home to many missionaries while they were in the area. She was an outstanding cook and was famous for her biscuits, cornbread and baked items.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Larkin and Nancy Kirby Murphy; first husband and the father of her children, James E. Hitte, Sr.; second husband, Lonnie Hammons; sister, Dorothy Weisenburger; and brother, Ralph Murphy.
She is survived by her children, Gwendolyn June Coleman and husband, James of Waynesville, Oh., Shirley Jean Wilson and husband, Dr. Sim Wilson of Cohutta, Sandra Kaye King of Santa Rosa, Cal. and Dr. James E. Hitte, Jr. and wife, Toni of Sikeston, Mo.; grandchildren, Cindi Hogen, Jeff Allen, Tom Allen, Roshelle Martin, Sim Wilson III, Linetta Cain, Kerri Green, Darren King, Jennifer Harris, Jaimee Hodges, Jessica Hitte and Jillian Baker; 30 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; brother, Omer Murphy of Franklin, Oh.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 16, in the chapel of Grissom Funeral Home with Dr. James E. Hitte, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service.
The family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, April 15 at the Grissom Funeral Home who has charge of the arrangements.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Lee University Alumni Fund, ATTN: Merica Stum, PO Box 3450, Cleveland, TN 37320 in Mrs. Hitte-Hammons memory.