Norma Jean Bullock Anderson

Powhatan resident, Norma Jean Bullock Anderson, 76, returned to be with her Heavenly Father on Saturday, November 9, 2024. She was surrounded by family when she took her final breath. 

 Norma Jean, lovingly referred to as Momma Jean by both family and friends, was preceded in death by her parents Howard Genius Bullock and Eunice Ludy Childress Bullock, her son, Raymond Alexander Anderson Jr., her grandson Brandon Gabriel Walton and her beloved aunt Beth Fuller and uncle Phil Childress. 

 She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Raymond Alexander Anderson Sr., only brother Phillip Bullock (Anne), devoted children and grandchildren, Cynthia Smith (Torrence), Melissa Wiedrich (DeJay) and Susan Costello; her adored grandchildren, DeAnna Calton (Jeff), Angel Kirk, Ashley Gordon (JaMarr), Michele (Brandon’s wife), Torri Azbite (Jason), Kayla Smith, Chelsie Tolbert (Julius), Ashur Wiedrich (Breanne), Elizabeth Tyler Westerhoff (Eric), Alexandria Costello-Price (Franklin), Dawson Wiedrich (Lindsay), Carolyn Costello, Alyssa Wiedrich, Kramer Anderson, Hannah Smith, Cassidy Anderson, Sarah- Grace Simpson (Caleb), Heidi Wiedrich, Brigham Wiedrich, Samual Anderson and 27 great-grandchildren with one on the way who all brought her so much joy and several “adopted” family members and friends. 

 Momma Jean was born in Richmond, VA on July 1, 1948. She was a good big sister to Phillip, but could also be a “real pain in the neck” sometimes. She loved the Sound of Music and got the album when it came out when she was a teenager. She would play and sing along to all of the songs multiple times a day, enough to drive her brother crazy. The love of that musical never went away and she could often be heard singing Edelweiss to her grandchildren. She even named her cat Edelweiss. She loved the old greats of Neil Diamond, Kris Kristofferson, Elton John, Billy Joel, the Righteous Brothers and her most current obsession, Paul Anka. 

 Momma Jean’s love of water has been apparent since she was a child. One summer, Momma Jean and Phillip thought they could dig a pool behind their shed. So they dug and dug, but their efforts were fruitless. She was happiest when she was in the water, either the pool or lake, but especially the ocean. She loved all things blue including blue eggs and blue crabs, and water was no exception. To be around water and with her family was to be in heaven. 

 Momma Jean grew the most beautiful flowers. Every home that she had, she always had some sort of flowers/plants growing. But in her most recent home, flowers and her chickens were her loves. She tended to them and talked to them as if they were her babies. And she enjoyed sharing the fruits of her labors with her loved ones- either by sharing fresh eggs or fresh flower bouquets. 

 Not only did Momma Jean love flowers and birds and the ocean, she really had a love for nature and living creatures. She’s always had pets, either dogs or cats or sometimes both. Once, she and Papa even befriended a pet fox, named Moses, that would come visit them each night and eat the food they left for him. She has always had bird feeders and enjoyed sitting at the table watching her birds, and especially hummingbirds, come drink their nectar. She also had a deep and abiding love for Smokey the Bear. To her, he was a real as any of those other creatures. Recently, a bear visited their yard and Momma Jean wanted to go outside and wrap her arms around the bear. She loved taking trips to the mountains in the fall. Gratefully, Momma Jean got to enjoy one more lovely trip just before she left this earth. 

 No one loved like Momma Jean and she loved her family the most. She was especially fond of the babies. At family functions or even just individual family gatherings, it would be rare to see her without a baby in her arms. She was a thoughtful gift giver and was known for sending cards for the holidays to her grandchildren. She loved to keep up with what everyone was doing and would often help keep everyone else in the loop. 

 Momma Jean loved having family dinners in her home. It brought her the most joy to be surrounded by her loved ones. She filled our bellies with her yummy food whether it was spaghetti with her homemade sauce, chipped beef and toast, stuffed shells or fried eggplant, homemade pickles or her fruit trifle or icebox pudding. But not only did she fill tummies, she filled hearts with her love and laughter. 

Just liked Momma Jean loved with a fierceness, she will be missed with a fierceness. Until we meet again, Momma Jean. 

The family will recieve friend Friday, November 15, 2024 at 10:00 am in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Where a service will follow at 11:00 am. Internment will be Monday, November 18, 2024 at 1:00 pm in the Amelia Veterans Cemetery.