Maria Jeannine Susan Norton

Maria Jeannine Susan Norton, 69, of Dahlonega, Georgia, passed away on December 27, 2024. She was born the fifth child to Murray and Peggy Milburn in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 13, 1955. In her youth, she enjoyed spending weekends with her family floating in innertubes at the lake, playing games, picking blackberries to eat with sugar and milk, and riding her bike to the beach. 

She attended Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale, where she participated on the drill team. Performing at the State Championship’s halftime game was a particular point of pride. Jeannine’s first job was as a gift wrapper at Sears Roebuck. She also worked several other service jobs in her young adult years—at the library, the grocery store, as a childcare provider, and, eventually, as a secretary where she met her second husband, Dave Norton. Her most important and beloved roles were as a wife, homemaker, mother, and grandmother.

Jeannine and Dave were married on August 23, 1986, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and returned to Atlanta three years later. They ultimately retired to beautiful Dahlonega, Georgia, where they lived out their final years together.

Jeannine loved reading, gardening, cooking, photography, beach vacations, and caring for too many beloved pets to name. She cherished quality time with her family, especially her grandchildren, who affectionately called her “MeMe.”

Jeannine and Dave both would often drive hours on weekends to attend their grandchildren’s events, games, and matches — or open their immaculate home to welcome any and all for extended visits. Holidays and gatherings were made magical through her hands-on, playful approach to grandparenting and her energetic devotion to her family and faith. Jeannine would cover miles each day, walking the dog, playing with the grandkids, or attending church services. Even in her later years, she had the physical and spiritual strength to battle and beat cancer.

Above all else, Jeannine Norton was a kind, generous, and loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who gave of herself to everyone, leaving everyone the better for knowing her.

She is survived by her six children, April Patton (and husband, Dan), Clint Crane (and wife, Erin), Kellie Crane, Jacob Crane (and wife, Heather), Lauren Atwill, and Cabot Norton; her sister, Janet Ferrado, her brothers, Bob Milburn and Mike Mulburn; and her fifteen beautiful grandchildren: Alex, Adam, Colten, Jude, Isaac, Mac, Kaye, Charlotte, Owen, Asher, Emmett, Patrick, Hazel, Simon, and Sawyer.

The family will announce funeral arrangements when they are finalized.

To share a memory or condolences with the family, visit Mrs. Norton's online guestbook at andersonunderwood.com.      

Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, 2068 Highway 19 North, Dahlonega, GA 30533