Betty Verson Norton, WC ’52, of Gainesville, Georgia, a Brenau University alumna, emerita member of the Board of Trustees and longtime supporter of Brenau, died Nov. 9, 2025, at age 93. The obituary is available online.
“The Brenau community was saddened to learn of the death of Betty Norton,” Brenau President David L. Barnett said. “She and her family have been strong and constant supporters of the university for decades, including Betty’s long tenure of service on the Board of Trustees. We express our gratitude and deepest condolences to the Norton family.”
Norton, originally from Cuba and a naturalized U.S. citizen, had lived in Hall County since she was 16, and was a 1952 graduate of Brenau. She earned a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Georgia and was Hall County’s first school psychologist.
She was also a pioneering female business leader in North Georgia and a champion for women’s leadership opportunities. In 1970, she joined her husband, Frank K. Norton Sr., at the Norton Agency, the insurance and real estate company founded by his father. Over the years, she became president of the Gainesville-Hall County Board of Realtors, organized the local Multiple Listing Service, and consistently ranked as a top producer in the Lake Lanier market. Betty and Frank Norton Sr. were also laureates of the Junior Achievement of Northeast Georgia Hall of Fame.
She was honored to serve on the Brenau University Board of Trustees for 35 years. During her service to Brenau, she was a student, faculty member, volunteer, first chair of Board of Visitors, Trustee, and mentor. Betty Norton’s mother, Isabel Verson, taught Spanish at Brenau for a decade. Norton was a recipient of the Brenau Hall of Fame award, one of the university’s highest honors, as well as the Professional Achievement Award from the Brenau Alumni Association. She was instrumental in developing the Norton Family Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Brenau.
The family’s legacy of service to Brenau has continued through her son, Frank K. Norton Jr., who has spent most of his life in and around Brenau, from his childhood years to adulthood. He is a current member of the university’s Board of Trustees as well as CEO and chairman of the Norton Agency.
Betty Norton was involved throughout the Gainesville community and held roles such as president of the Lanier Study Club, president of Gainesville First United Methodist Women’s Society, chair of Brenau Alumnae Association, chairman of the Chestatee Regional Library Board, and vice chair of Community Development of Gainesville Hall County Chamber of Commerce. As president of the Junior League, she helped establish the Northeast Georgia Speech and Healing Center. She also organized the Clean Community Council, which later became Keep Hall Beautiful.
She is survived by her three children: sons Frank Jr. (Nancy) and Bob (Amanda) and daughter Elisa Cooper; 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Gainesville First United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Memorial Park Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests honoring her legacy with a donation to Gainesville First United Methodist Church, Brenau University Norton Family Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which she established, or to the North Georgia Community Foundation.
