Catherine Marie Pelham

Catherine Marie Norman Pelham

June 14, 1956 - February, 13, 2026

In Loving Memory of the Light of Our Family

Catherine Pelham

Catherine Pelham, age 69, passed away Friday, February 13, 2026 at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, GA.

She was taken from the World suddenly and unexpectedly. She passed away peacefully with no pain and loved by so many.

Catherine was born June 14, 1956 in Montreal, Canada to Thomas Eugene Norman and Eleanor Catherine Dyson. The daughter of a US Air Force Technical Sergeant (later a Master Sergeant), she entered the world with cry ready to face it head on with strength of will and a heart the size of the World.

While her father and family were stationed in the Philippines at Clark Air Force Base, Catherine grew up with love, discipline, respect and a sense of adventure. With her two brothers she explored and grew bold and fearless. In the latter part of the 60’s her family would return the the U.S. and continue the journey of her life.

As she grew older, she would follow many interests and paths as her family continued to serve this nation through their father’s military service.

In high school the seeds of a medical career were sown and would carry her into nursing career after graduation. She attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) where as a nursing student, she found herself learning under pioneer cardiac surgeon John W. Kirklin when many of the techniques and procedures for heart stents were developed and are still used today, even within her own heart later in life.

After graduation, Catherine found her skills, knowledge and dedication would lead her to several administrative positions including Director of Nursing at the Eye Foundation in Birmingham, AL. Her love of nursing and dedication would continue to elevate her career path. She found herself in Key West, FL in the mid 1980’s at DePoo Hospital. Her love of the beach fulfilled to is height. Shortly after her parents moved to the Trussville, AL area where her father worked as an Air Traffic Controller. The distance away from her parents would weigh heavily so she decided to leave and move towards Alabama, where Catherine would find herself as the Director of Nursing: Division “D” at National Healthcare, Inc in mid 1986. There, Catherine’s path would cross that of a young Art Director named Walter Shawn Pelham. The attraction was instant and unknown to all, would be the start of a wonderful life for them both.

In 1987, after one year and 2 months of long and short distance courtship, Catherine and Shawn would marry. A year later a son, Christopher Jared would be born. Catherine’s greatest wish was fulfilled, the nurse who had saved so many lives before, had given a new life to the world.

Catherine and the family had moved to North Alabama where she would become Director of Nursing for Hartselle Medical Center (HMC), Hartselle, AL. A few years later, she would move to Cullman Medical Center (CMC) in Cullman, AL always leaving behind a facility JCAHO (Joint Commission) fully accredited and better than before. While at CMC she would give birth to a beautiful girl, Tyne Elizabeth. Life was beautiful. Within a few years both children would be diagnosed with Autism. For Catherine and Shawn, it would be just another adventure. Catherine’s career would take the family out west to Longview, TX to Longview Regional Medical Center (LRMC). Again, she would be the key to their JCAHO accreditation. Soon after that, Catherine and the family would find themselves in Bulloch County with Catherine as the Director of Nursing at Bulloch Memorial Hospital (BMH) in Statesboro, GA. Again, she would use her knowledge and experience to guide the hospital through JCAHO accreditation. After a couple of years she would begin the climb down the ladder. She moved out of Administration and to St. Joseph Candler in Savannah, GA where she worked in ICU/CCU, Risk Management and Gastroenterology. Still wanting to travel more paths of nursing, she went into home health. Gentiva, Trinity, Kindred at Home and ultimately CenterWell Home Health. Always loving the patients with her incredible selfless way. She never stopped giving of herself to her family and friends and most of all to the patients she held so dear.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Eleanor Norman, and her in-laws Rev. Walter Loyd Pelham, Jr. and Winona Dupree Pelham.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 38 years, Walter Shawn Pelham, her two beautiful children Christopher Jared Pelham, and Tyne Elizabeth Pelham, her brother Tom Norman and his family (wife Martha, daughter Hannah and son David of Dothan, AL), her brother Tim Norman (Gardendale, AL), Sister-in-law, Krista Mishal Pelham Beasley and her family (husband, Monroe Jackson (Jack) Beasley, III - son, Monroe Jackson (Clay) Beasley, IV - his fiancée Hayley McCormick - daughter, Rebekah Beasley Hunt and her husband Dr. Bryce Hunt of Tupelo, MS, and son John Loyd Beasley, (Boaz, AL).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Autism Speaks (www.autismpeaks.org) and in lieu of a service, she wanted everyone to hold their families/friends close and love each other with all their hearts and celebrate life.