Item
St. Croix Courier, Sept 2, 1948Shiretown Items
Cadman Norris
A fatal accident resulting in the death of Cadman Norris occurred here last Thursday. "Caddy," as he was popularly known, had been teamster for McQuoids for many years and was an excellent horseman. How the accident happened will never be known. After the team had returned home without their driver a search was made and Mr. Norris was found lying by the road, unconscious. He was taken to Chipman Hospital but died, early next morning without having regained consciousness.
The funeral, held Saturday afternoon, was one of the largest in the history of the town and the profusion of flowers surpassed anything ever seen here. This whole-hearted tribute by permanent and Summer residents alike showed human nature at its finest.
Mr. Norris was a colored man, for many years the only one living in St. Andrews but beneath that colored skin there was a heart of gold, and when angels write his name upon the scroll it is sure that they will mark him down as "one who loved his fellow men." From childhood up he had been treated "almost" as a white person, but Caddy who had a sensitive nature, knew that there was a distinction, however slight, and for this reason he learned to show his appreciation more than most for every little kind word and friendly act.
He loved the children of the town and of the cottages and they all adored him as they proved by weaving an enormous mat of flowers which took four men to carry. He was a member of the St. Andrews Band and the boys as an acknowledgment of this fact and to pay respect to his memory, donned their uniforms and attended the funeral service in a body.
Living alone for many years, always working hard, early and late, Caddy did not have an easy life but those who knew him best believe it was a happy one and that he would not have wished it different.
He has left no family and no relatives to whom we may express our sympathy and regrets. For many years the whole community has been his family, more carefully and more tenderly providing for his needs when necessary, and his comforts when occasion offered, because his color and consequently his situation in life, was not just like our own. Caddy was one of the landmarks of the town. In fact, he was more than that—he was an institution, now closed forever by his tragic death. In that beautiful plot of ground just outside the town, where brooks the spirit of everlasting peace, his mortal remains are now forever laid. May he rest in peace.