There is a good gunsmithing school in Roxboro, NC at Piedmont Community College. This is about a 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive from Norfolk.
Right now I think about 20 - 25 students, etc... It includes makeing a number of your own tools on Mill, Lathe, (full compliment of machine work experience, etc...) instructors seem very knowledgeble and are helpful and easy to get along with (I don't purport to be wise enough to critically evaluate their technical ability). Former students are actively employed all over the place. I think one runs the custome shop at Weatherby. I believe the instructors used to be involved (started?) the program at Montgomery in Troy, and moved to start the program in Roxboro. Not only is this fairly close to where you want to be, the cost of living is fairly low. It is also only a half hour or so away from the RTP area.
Hope this was helpful. Good Luck!!
Here's a contact if you want to call or write for further info at some point:
Pete Erdner
Gunsmithing Instructor
Piedmont Community College
Post Office Box 1197
1715 College Drive
Roxboro, NC 27573
336-599-1181
336-597-3817 (fax)