Naomi Broadway Orr

Naomi Broadway Orr, of Newbern, Tennessee, died Sunday, March 30, 2025, on her 87th birthday, at her residence in Newbern, Tennessee. Naomi was born in Perry County, Tennessee on March 30, 1938.  She was a retired teacher, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and the wife of a minister.  She was preceded in death by a son, Timothy John Orr and her parents, Guss J. Broadway and Loudean Clifton Broadway. She is survived by her husband of sixty-five years, Reverend Melvin L. Orr, son Philip (Jackie) and daughter-in-law Leah Orr, three grandchildren Tyler Orr (Raney), Dr. Elizabeth Orr Moore (Elliot), Finnigan Orr and two great -granddaughters, Celia Cait Orr and Clara Lea Orr, a brother Garland Broadway (Virginia).

Naomi graduated from Central High School in Camden, Tennessee, earned her bachelor's degree from Bethel College (now Bethel University) McKenzie, Tennessee and a Master of Education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford Oklahoma. She taught school for 40 years in public education in Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Her hobby was genealogical research and as a result she published cookbooks and family biographical genealogy books. She worked several years in different Cumberland Presbyterian Church youth camps as teacher and counselor.  Naomi served nine years on the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination's Board of Christian Education and as Presbyterial President of Women's work in Cumberland Presbyterian Churches in Tennessee, Kentucky and Louisiana. She serves as Vice President of General Federation of Women's Work in Tennessee Newbern, TN chapter.  In 2018 she received the honor of being selected the club woman of the year by the General Federation of Women's Club of Tennessee.

After retirement she and Melvin did 25 volunteer work mission trips following disasters in the south.  Naomi created the week's menu purchased the food and cooked the meals with her friend, Shirley Butlers help.

Naomi was a member of the Poplar Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Halls, Tennessee.

Funeral services for Mrs. Orr will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in the Chapel of Johnson-Williams Funeral Home. Officiating the service will be Rev. Dr. Johnnie Welch. Interment will follow in Poplar Grove Cemetery in Halls, Tennessee. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Johnson-Williams Funeral Home.

Honoring Mrs. Orr as pallbearers will be Finnigan Orr, Tyler Orr, Ronnie Roberts, Peyton Murphy, Tony Broadway and Brad Baird.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that memorial contributions be made to the Poplar Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 492 Church Road, Halls, Tennessee 38040.

Johnson-Williams Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Naomi Broadway Orr.

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