LAKELAND — This Sunday, a well known and loved Lakeland teacher will receive an eternal dedication. Lucille Norton, a native of Lanier County who died at age 86, taught home economics in Lakeland for 58 years. This Sunday, the bridge over Grand Bay Pond on U.S. 221 will be named in her honor at a 2 p.m. ceremony in the Lanier County Courthouse.

Abby Pearson, a friend of the family, said Lucille spent over 50 years teaching students how to be better cooks, moms, housekeepers and people. Lucille was modest about achievements but devoted her time to students in addition to volunteering with organizations and serving as church treasurer at Good Hope Baptist Church.

Lanier County Sheriff Nick Norton, Lucille’s grandson, said she was raised on the farm near the bridge and spent her childhood fishing and swimming in the creek.

“She crossed that bridge a minimum of twice a day and mostly four times a day for the 86 years of her life,” Norton said.

He remembers Lucille’s intolerance for misbehavior when it came to keeping house. “She would crack knuckles for stirring when you should simmer or opening the oven door when you shouldn’t,” Norton said. He and others ate most of

their lunches in the home economics classroom — “Everything from gator tail to roast pork.”

Norton said he remembers Sunday dinners at Lucille’s house, where she would prepare the food before leaving for church. He said there would be at least a dozen pots of food with everything from pecan pie to fried chicken.

Norton’s love for his grandmother prompted him to work with Rep. Jay Shaw, D-Lakeland, in passing a resolution to name the bridge in Lucille’s honor.

Pearson said there are several ladies in the community who say they never go through one holiday or formal occasion without checking their tables to make sure it is set and everything is in place, just like Lucille told them to.

“I’m not really sure what they thought the repercussions of not doing it correctly at this point would be, but they were serious about it,” Pearson said.