Norma Hallett Jennings

The world is a poorer place after the passing of Norma Jean Hallett Jennings, one of the world’s great wives and mothers, on Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Dallas.

Born in Dallas on Oct. 18, 1926, Norma packed a lot into her 99 years – teacher, wife, mother, volunteer. She was the daughter of Gertrude and Harold Hallett, and the younger sister to Dorothy Hallett (Calhoun).

After graduating from Highland Park High School, she earned a degree in education from Baylor University. She met the love of her life in Waco, marrying an Army veteran, turned law student, Ken Jennings, in 1948. His career took them to Colorado City in west Texas, Houston, Washington, D.C. and New Orleans.

When her daughters, Kay and Diane, were born, Norma devoted herself to being a stay at home mom, at which she excelled. After the girls left home, she embarked on a series of athletic adventures, taking up tennis in her 40s, running in her 50s, whitewater rafting and skiing in her 60s. She defied the idea of old age for decades: on one of her last ski trips, in her 80s, a young staffer looked at the birth date on her driver’s license and blurted: “You’re my hero.” When a rafting guide lifted an eyebrow at her advanced age, she was vindicated when the boat flipped and she fished him out of the water.

Norma and Ken travelled to professional tennis tournaments and their marriage survived teaming up for mixed doubles. When Ken could no longer play, he cheered her on. Another spectator once asked, “Is that your wife out there?” He replied, "No, that’s my whole life out there.”

They enjoyed 44 years together before his passing in 1992. Though devasted, she refused to give in to grief. In addition to continuing to play tennis until age 90, she became a stalwart member of the Christian Science Society of Slidell, Louisiana. One of her proudest accomplishments was helping oversee the building of a new edifice after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the previous building.

Norma relocated to Dallas in 2022, to be near her daughter, Diane. Her older daughter, Kay, passed away in 2009.

In addition to Diane, she is survived by her nephew, Charlie Calhoun of Englewood, CO., his wife Monica and children Jason and Margo.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00a.m. on May 11 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Cemetery, 7405 W. Northwest Highway. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christian Science Society of Slidell, P.O. Box 4055, Slidell, LA. 70459 or the charity of your choice.