Evelyn "Lois" Dozier Norvell (1917-1986) was born in Athens, Georgia, on December 24, 1917. Her parents were Obedience "Obie" Rogers Dozier, Sr. (1888-1939) and Alice Louise Brinkley (1888-1967). Lois' siblings were Roger Dozier and Alice "Lallie" Dozier Benkoski. On February 19, 1949, Lois married Lauren Gardiner Norvell (1910-1981), cousin of Oliver Hardy. Lauren was a graduate of Emory University (Atlanta, Ga.) and a reporter for the sports department of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Nancy Kathleen Norvell (1957-1994), born in Atlanta, Georgia, was their only child. Nancy married Timothy Lee Boaz on May 20, 1989. She had a Ph.D. in psychology and was taking flying lessons in Florida when her airplane ran out of fuel. Nancy died in the subsequent airplane crash on February 8, 1994, and is buried at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Thomson, Georgia. Lois graduated from Georgia Evening College (now Georgia State University) with a degree in Business Administration on May 25, 1942. During World War II, Lois sent and received letters from men and women in military service. most of her correspondents were students form Georgia Evening College. Once a month, Lois published a newsletter providing information about the soldiers with whom she corresponded. Lois received awards and public notoriety for this and her other activities in the war effort. In February, 1967, she received a USO certificate in recognition of her distinguished service to the nation through United Service Organizations. In 1947, Lois served as chairman of the Office of Price Administration Information Panel in Newnan, Georgia. During World War Ii, Lois was advertising manager for Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, but she relinquished the job when the former advertising manager returned from the war. Lois began her writing career early in life and won several prizes for her writing skills as a teenager. In high school, she was associate editor for central Night School's newspaper, Modern Knight. White attending college, she was editor of the college newspaper, Evening Signal. She later worked as a reporter for the Cobb County Times in Marietta, Georgia, the Newnan Herald in Griffin, Georgia, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for the Society Department in the fashion section as a garden editor. While working as garden editor in 1953, a camellia originated and cultivated by the Central Georgia Nurseries in Macon, Georgia, was named for her, "The Lois Norvell Camellia." From approximately 1954 to 1964, Lois was assistant editor and advertising manager of The Coca Cola Bottler in Atlanta, the company magazine for Coca Cola Company. She died on October 15, 1986 and is buried at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Thomson, Georgia. The donor of this collection suggests researchers interested in writing about this family should contact her. See Library and Archives staff for her contact information.
From the description of Lois Dozier Norvell papers, 1917-1994. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 68568011
