Norma Lucille Davis Paulk was born on January 18, 1929. She was an accomplished singer who ministered at the Tremont Ave. Church of God. In 1946 she married Earl P. Paulk, Jr., a young minister who was then attending Furman University. As the wife of a minister, Norma assisted her husband as he taught at Lee University, was Youth Director of South Carolina and Georgia, and as he pastored many churches including the Hemphill Ave. Church of God in Atlanta, Georgia (now the Mt. Paran Church) and the Gospel Harvester Tabernacle. In 1952, Earl and Norma Paulk moved to Atlanta where he attended Candler School of Theology as well as pastoring a growing congregation.

In 1960 Gospel Harvester Tabernacle (now Cathedral of The Holy Spirit) was founded by her husband and other family members. She supported her husband as he worked with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Sr. in the struggle for civil rights in the 50's and 60's. In 1972 the ministry moved to the South DeKalb Area of Decatur where along with her husband's brother and his wife, Don and Clariece Paulk, they built the 6,000 seat Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and helped to educate hundreds of children and adults at Cathedral Academy and the Earl Paulk Institute. The ministry received a Point of Light from President George Herbert Bush for work in the Bankhead Courts Housing Project in 1992.

In addition to serving in the music ministry of the church, Norma was a Bible teacher and author and the mother of three daughters: the late Rebecca Lalaian of Loganville, Ga., Joy Owens of Decatur, Ga. and Beth Bonner of Covington, Ga. Norma Paulk's greatest desire in life was to serve her husband and her family. At the time of her husband's death the couple had been married for 62 years. Since that time she has resided with her youngest daughter and son-in-law, Wes and Beth Bonner.

Mrs. Paulk passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, January 27, 2011 at Newton County Medical Center. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law: Rev. Steve and Joy Owens, Revs. Wes and Beth Bonner and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her homegoing service will be at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at 2600 H. F. Shepherd Dr., Decatur, Ga. on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. with the Rev. D.E. Paulk officiating.  Family will receive friends Saturday, January 29, 2011 from 6 until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit or to a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.scotward.com.  Scot Ward Funeral Services - Harry White Chapel, 1299 Milstead Ave., Conyers, GA 30012, 770-483-7216.