MOULTON — Neal Norwood, a prominent civic leader in Lawrence County, died Christmas Day at age 82.

Norwood was diagnosed with prostate cancer 14 years ago. According to his son, David Norwood, his father had surgery and the cancer was in remission until a few years ago. David Norwood said his father died peacefully at home surrounded by his family.

Neal Norwood was a Moulton native who loved his hometown and Lawrence County. He served on a number of city and county boards working to improve Lawrence County. Norwood served on the Lawrence Medical Center Hospital board for 20 years and on the Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corp. board for over 30 years. He received the Area Rural Electrification Association’s Bill Nichols Outstanding Service Award in 2004.

He was a charter member of the Moulton Jaycees as well as belonging to many other civic organizations.

“I grew up with Dad being a Jaycee and Mother a Jayceette,” said his son. “I thought everyone grew up and joined the Jaycees when they turned 18.”

For the last few years, Neal Norwood had been a supporter of Relay for Life.

Norwood graduated from Lawrence County High School and served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. While he was stationed in England, he met his wife.

Norwood loved sports especially Lawrence County High sports. He was involved in broadcasting play-by-play of LCHS football and basketball games for Moulton radio stations. Most recently, he worked six years with his son, David, at WALW-FM broadcasting sports.

Norwood was a businessman. He worked as a salesman for several product lines and at one time owned the old Draper’s Market in Lawrence County.

After he retired, he continued to serve on civic boards and worked at Moulton’s Deer Run Golf Course.

“He enjoyed golf and the people who came to the golf course,” David Norwood said.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Moulton where he served on a number of boards and committees.

Funeral services for Norwood will be today at 2 p.m. at Moulton First United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Sheila; one son, David Norwood; and one daughter, Sandy Norwood Jump, all of Moulton.