Carol C. Norcross, 84, advocate for seniors, matriarch of a powerful South Jersey family

Carol C. Norcross, 84, a tireless advocate for senior citizens and the matriarch of South Jersey's powerful Norcross family, died Saturday at her home in Cherry Hill after battling lung cancer.

Mrs. Norcross, often called "Mama" by family and friends, worked for many years as executive director of the Camden County Senior Citizens Center, her family said. Last year, the Camden County Freeholders dedicated a facility in Blackwood, N.J., as the Carol C. Norcross Senior Social Wellness Center, describing her as "inspirational" and praising her for two decades of service to the county.

An avid bridge player and a dedicated member of the Haddonfield United Methodist Church, Mrs. Norcross urged seniors at the wellness center to remain active, encouraging them to take part in activities or excursions such as ceramics classes, woodworking classes, or visiting the grocery store, said her granddaughter, Lexie Norcross.

Martin McKernan, a longtime family friend from Cherry Hill, said Mrs. Norcross "refused to allow [seniors] to be patronized."

"She wouldn't tolerate any kind of restrictions on their mobility," said McKernan, 70, a lawyer who practices in Camden. "Any attempt to pigeonhole her seniors, that was just not tolerated."

Mrs. Norcross was also an ardent supporter of her large and accomplished family, which includes her son George E. Norcross III, the South Jersey political power broker who chairs insurance firm Conner Strong & Buckelew; and son Donald Norcross, a Democrat who represents New Jersey's First District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"She instilled in us, always, we must take pride in what we do," said Lexie Norcross, 28, executive director of the news website PhillyVoice.com. "And never give up your work ethic and drive, but always be mindful of the community and where you came from."

Anne Carol Conner was born on July 26, 1931 in Townsend, Tenn., to parents Avery Conner and Jonnie Tipton.

After spending her childhood in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, she met her future husband, George E. Norcross Jr., then a union representative, while he was in the state leading a labor organizing drive.

The two married and settled in Pennsauken, where they raised four sons and her husband became a powerful labor leader. From 1979 until 1995, he served as president of the Central Labor Union of Camden and Gloucester Counties, which represented nearly 100 union locals and more than 90,000 workers at its peak.

Mrs. Norcross also began advocating for and interacting with seniors through the Camden County Senior Center. She displayed her tenacity in other ways, too, earning an associate's degree from Camden County College, which she attended at the same time as her son Donald, Lexie Norcross said.

In Mrs. Norcross's spare time, she earned a reputation as a fervent bridge player, competing in tournaments from New Jersey to Florida and Tennessee, Lexie Norcross said. Mrs. Norcross belied her competitive zeal with layers of Southern charm and grace, and had a sharp and dry sense of humor, McKernan recalled.

While the Norcross family became a powerhouse in South Jersey, building relationships in industries from labor to politics and health care, Mrs. Norcross was by all accounts a stabilizing force - never missing occasions such as birthdays or graduations, and instilling a sense of devotion among family members.

"For all of [her sons'] accomplishments, I really think the thing she was most proud of was their adherence to their family - their loyalty to their family," McKernan said.

Lexie Norcross said: "Always putting your family first and being loyal were paramount to her. She lived it. She made my dad and my uncles live it. And she made my cousins and me certainly live it."

Mrs. Norcross' husband died in 1998. She is survived by her four sons, George, John, Donald, and Philip; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a sister.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Cooper Foundation/MD Anderson Cancer Center, 200 Federal St., Suite 146, Camden, N.J. 08103.

Family and friends are invited to Haddonfield United Methodist Church, 29 Warwick Rd., starting at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m.

cpalmer@phillynews.com

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