June 25, 1946 – March 30, 2024
It is with great sadness that NEFAR has learned of the death of longtime NEFAR member Norita S. Birdsong of Neptune Beach.
A REALTOR® for 23 years, Norita worked for Watson Realty Corp. in Neptune Beach and was remembered as a wonderful human being by her office co-workers. Having lived in Jacksonville’s beach communities for 56 years, she was an expert in local beach real estate ranging from weekly rentals to ocean-front homes. During her tenure at Watson Realty, she was recognized with awards including Multi-Million-Dollar Sales, President’s Club, Eagle Award, Executive Club, and the Pinnacle Award.
“Norita was an extremely giving person. Everyone enjoyed spending time with her. She was always the life of the party,” said Watson Realty Corp. Broker Michael Blazek, who worked with her for 11 years. “She had a ton of repeat business and a lot of referrals. She was great working with interior design and at helping her customers get their homes ready to sell. As a seasoned REALTOR®, she was always ready to help others in our office.”
Norita, who was 77, passed away March 30 after a short battle with degenerative brain disease. Her memorial service was held May 2 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Jacksonville Beach, where she was a lifelong member.
She was a native of Brooklyn, New York, and the youngest of six children. Her parents emigrated from Cork, Ireland, and her love of her family’s homeland was apparent through her work with the Ulster Project, that brought Catholic and Protestant teens from Northern Ireland together to show them that they had more commonalities than differences.
Norita was also active in the Beaches Garden Club, loved shopping at garage sales, and enjoyed spending time with a group of fellow June birthday celebrants known as the “Crab Ladies.”
She is survived by her husband, Scott, a retired Jacksonville Beach firefighter, four sons and their wives, three grandchildren, and her sister.
