Norma June Gordon of Rumson passed away July 22, 2022. She was 88 years old and truly loved and adored by her family. She was born June 19, 1934 in Elberton, Georgia, to Clifton Adams and Dora Lee Adams.
She lived in Elberton her entire childhood, enjoying basketball, swimming, soccer, cheerleading, acting and being involved in every volunteer and philanthropic club that she could. After graduating Elbert County High School, she attended University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. She graduated with the Class of 1956. June was very involved in college activities as well, being the most dedicated to her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi. She always displayed outstanding leadership and loyalty to all the organizations and people, family and friends she was involved with. She always gave 110% with a smile and can-do, make-whatever-you-can-better, attitude. She was forever selfless and service-oriented.
When June graduated from UGA, she joined Eastern Airlines as a flight attendant. She was inducted into the Eastern Airlines Clipped Wings Society, where she was an officer for years. She also worked for Rich’s Department Store as a senior buyer. Rich’s later merged with R. H. Macy and Company. June also was scouted to model and tried her hand at acting. She did this on the side for many years and lived in Los Angeles for a short time, but realized she was most at home in the South and returned to Atlanta.
Soon thereafter, in 1960, June met her husband, Leonard Gordon Jr., and they married Aug. 11, 1962, in Atlanta. They resided there until moving to Tinton Falls to be with their daughter Debbie Memmott and husband David Memmott and their six grandchildren in 2012.
While in Atlanta, June was not only working with Eastern Airlines, Rich’s, and modeling, she worked with many charities and foundations, always being very diligent, bringing new ideas, and ultimately running the show. She was most actively involved in the following organizations where she was asked to be every office and leadership position possible due to her positive attitude and know how: Atlanta Alumni Panhellenic Association, president from 1967-1968; Atlanta Alumni Alpha Omicron Pi (quote from the current president, “June was a Lambda Sigma and served in many leadership roles and collected numerous awards along the way. She was president of our alumnae chapter twice, president of AAPA, recipient of an AOPi Rose Award and recognized as an Atlanta Alumnae Panhellenic Woman of the Year, just to name a few of her accolades. June was a loyal alumna with a lifetime commitment to her collegiate chapter, the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter, and the Atlanta Panhellenic Association. We have truly lost one of our chapter’s matriarchs.”); Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, member for over 50 years and did all anyone could do there from teaching Sunday School to being a worship and flower guild member, was an active young adult member, organizing outreach programs and heading up the food deliveries; Rabun Gap Naccochee Guild was where June gave most of her time as her children were growing up. She remained a steadfast member after becoming president from 2005-’07, receiving award after award for commitment and excellence and being voted onto the board of trustees.
In 1985, June joined Harry Norman Realtors, as her children were almost out of high school, and there was awarded Associate of the Year in Sales and Gross Commissions, Million Dollar Club, Multi-Million Dollar Club, and more. Whatever she did, it was with all she could do and more.
However, her two children, Len and Debbie, always came first. She and her husband joined Atlanta Athletic Club and the Polo Golf and Country Club and were longtime members so that their children could learn all the sports and athletics that they both loved. She enjoyed golfing and playing tennis with her husband and kids. She was also known for her love of football which first began at UGA where they would spectate and she would rival her husband who went to Georgia Tech and Emory University. The annual Thanksgiving game was one of the best memories for her family, half dressing up in red and black, and the other in yellow and black. The love of football was carried on through her beloved Atlanta Falcons, also where she could don her red and black. She and her husband were two-of-a-kind, being 44-year season ticket holders. They hardly missed a game since the inception of the team.
It was only when June had six grandchildren in Rumson that she and her husband decided that they could leave Atlanta, after living there for more than 50 years, to spend more time being grandparents. She gave her grandchildren the gift of her love for life, adventure, gift-giving, play dates, sports spectating, and good ol’ cuddle and quality time.
June was a true Lady/Southern Bell/Georgia Peach. Her accent never waned, despite being a Jersey Girl for 10 years. She became an active member at St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church, where her daughter and family were members. She was an enthusiastic member of the Bible Study Group and Adult Education sessions and an active member of their Connections social group.
She was a gift to all who had the chance to know her. Her last years were spent at the amazing facility, Care One King James in Atlantic Highlands. They were so good to her, helping her through the last few years, including COVID and other tough times. Her caregivers constantly shared that she brightened everyone’s day with her smile and her voice was music to everyone’s ears. Nothing got June down and never did she have a complaint. She was a dedicated friend and family member keeping her ties that bound for a lifetime. Once you knew June, it was friends for life. Her smile, kindness, southern accent and ladylike ways will live on forever when she is remembered.
June was predeceased by her husband, Leonard Gordon Jr., and son Leonard Gordon. She is survived by her daughter Debbie Gordon Memmott and son-in-law David James Memmott; grandchildren David William, Chapin Michael, Carson Gordon, Chase Elizabeth, Cooper Leigh, and Colton Kennedy Memmott; and nieces, nephews, and many grand ones, too. A viewing, wake and service were held July 29 at St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church, Rumson. Burial followed at Fair View Cemetery, Red Bank; a lunch was offered at Rumson Country Club’s Riverhouse.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in June’s name to Atlanta Alumnae AOPi, Mrs. Anna Burr, 616 Briarmeade Drive S.W., Marietta, GA 30064, or
Rabun Gap Guild, Mrs. Donna McKinney, 140 Colony Ridge Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30022 (Designate Bible Fund Scholarship Fund), or St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church, 7 Lincoln Avenue, Rumson, NJ 07760.
The article originally appeared in the August 4 – 10, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
