Norma Powell Fuller Mullin, 88, passed away at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Delphi, Indiana, at 6:47 pm on Monday, May 5, 2025. Norma Jurene Powell was born May 21, 1936, at home in rural Eupora, Mississippi, the firstborn of Thomas Dewitt and Laura Matthews Powell. Her siblings (in birth order) were Thomas Alonzo, Reba Loyce, Jimmy Donald, and Theron Doyle. She graduated from Greenwood Mississippi High School in 1955 and with university distinction from the University of Nevada, Reno, in economics in 1984. From her marriage to Elmer Arvis Counts of Schlater, Mississippi, in 1953, she bore Dinah Arvis. Widowed by car accident after 10 months in 1954, Norma married Billy Jean (BJ) Fuller of Oxford, Mississippi, in 1955, with whom she bore Billy Jean (Bill), James Dewitt, Thelma Laura Alice, and Mary Louise. Widowed in 2006, Norma married William Lewis Mullin of Delphi, Indiana, in 2007 outside her home in Kings Beach, California, overlooking Lake Tahoe. She is survived by youngest sibling, all children, and husband.
Norma was born independent, critical thinking, industrious and resourceful eagerly helping her mother with household chores and caring for siblings. She enjoyed the power status of being the oldest. At 14 she worked in a Greenwood variety store and was gainfully employed thereafter as a secretary/administrator at private and government agencies until her retirement in 1994 from The Veterans Administration in Reno, Nevada. In every job she quickly rose to the top of her job category. Concurrently with work and battling poor health, she raised 5 children, helped put a husband through graduate school, graduated from college, and dabbled in antiques and interior decorating.
Her movement across the country followed her second husband’s accounting professorships. First move from Mississippi was to Alabama, then to the Reno/Tahoe area. It was in Alabama in 1967 while working at an Army base she met her future (40 years later) third husband.
After retirement she cared for an ailing husband and became a serious antique dealer with a presence in many antique shops. Norma was often used by friends as an appraiser because of her keen eye and mental storehouse of artisans, wares and periods.
When Norma moved to Indiana she joined The Wednesday Forum, a group started by her mother-in-law, limited to 12 or less members with monthly meetings structured to minimize easy ‘girly’ chitchat and maximize more difficult topics that broaden one’s perspective. She always looked forward to the meetings normally held at a member’s home. Other groups she joined are Liberty Bells home economics club and Presbyterian Women of the Burrows Presbyterian Church where she was a member.
Norma was born and raised in the deep South in the midst of a lot of racial tension. Women were also increasingly fighting for their rights. A southern maverick, Norma was an early sympathizer for both movements. Throughout her life she gave time and treasure to make America truly the land of the free. This is reflected in the organizations she supported with time and treasure: Planned Parenthood, Southern Poverty Law Center, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, The Carter Center, Southwest Indian Foundation, Boys Town, Compassion & Choices, and Common Cause. She was a generous tipper.
Norma was also interested in the environment: Sierra Club, Niches Land Trust, and Environmental Defense Fund. Any listed organization will welcome a memorial contribution.
Norma has 10 grandchildren and 20 greatgrandchildren scattered across the US from Mississippi to Hawaii.
Anew Hospice provided Norma and family with great medical and emotional support during the “End-of-Life-Journey.” A special “Thank You” to Nancy Winberg for many years of unwavering loyalty to Norma’s well-being.
Visitation was held on Friday May 9, at 10 a.m. at Cree Funeral Home, 188 W. Main St. Camden, IN 46917. Services were held on Friday May 9, at 11 a.m. at Cree Funeral Home. Pastor Ed Selvidge officiated.
