Bessie Marie Norman

On Sunday morning, January 29, 2006, at Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, Merciful God called our beloved angel, Bessie Norman to rest from her trials here on earth.Bessie Marie Smith Norman, the eighth child of ten children, was born March 18, 1918 in Rockingham County, North Carolina, to the late Reverend, James Yancey” Cap” Smith and Mrs. Mary J. Deshazo Smith.She received her education from the public institution, Douglas High School, Eden, NC. Shortly upon completion of her education, she married her soul and life mate, Alfred “Nathan” Norman, and together they embarked on rearing eight children of her own.Bessie gave her life to Christ at an early age as a member of her family’s church, “Rising Star Baptist,” in Virginia, and continued her devotion on as she journeyed to Baltimore; there she remained a faithful servant, and an active member of Greater Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, and served as a part of the Willing Worker’s Pastor’s Aid, until her illness. She was a devoted Christian, with insurmountable faith, who called upon the Lord until the end.Bessie was married to Alfred “Nathan” Norman for 34 years until he preceded her in death in 1972. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother, and together they reared 8 children, Donald Draper (deceased), Pamela Norman Drake, Angela Shade, Byron Norman, Kay Henson, Keith Norman, Ronald Norman and Janice Norman.Bessie will be truly missed by her wonderful family and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Booker Smith, James Smith, Willie Smith and Homer Smith and four sisters, Ida Smith Millner, Mary Smith Moore, Sally Smith Clark and Annie Smith.She leaves to celebrate her life: loving sisters, Josephine Smith Hardy, Claudine Woods, Melvinia Spears, Camel Palmer; adopted brother, Charles Millner; 14 grandchildren, Rhonda Bell, Sandra Draper Renee Briggs, Patricia Draper, and Terry Draper, Kia Drake-Cummings, Jason Drake, Nathaniel Norman, Dennis Jones, Tierra Norman, Tanya Warrington, Andre Brown Jr., Aaron Brown, Keisha Brown, and 30 great-grandchildren, Nikia Winchester, Gerald “Chico” Bell, Keysha Stewart, Keenya Stewart, Keyaira Stewart, Duriel Briggs, Brandon Briggs, Donyell Briggs, Radon Spence, Donnicia Spence, Dontaye Draper, Paris Drake-Cummings, London Drake-Cummings, Rome Drake-Cummings, Cairo Drake-Cummings, Zaire Drake-Cummings, Milan Drake-Cummings, Carmen Norman, Justin Bell, Joshua Bell, Christian Bell, Ashley Bell, Isaiah Bell, Quadré Bell, Kierra Langston, André Brown III, Juwan Brown, Terrell Brown, Kayla Langston, Isiah Brown, and 10 great-great grandchildren.She also leaves behind a son-in-law, Edward Drake, daughter-in-law, (more in her heart), Wendy “Carol” Petty Norman, and Patricia Ann Draper, brother-in-law, Leroy Woods.And a special farewell from nephews, Pastor Reginald Thomas, Sr., Steven Simms, Anthony Woods Sr., and Anthony “Tony: Wood Jr., nieces, Alfreda Patterson and a host of other relatives and friends, too numerous to name.

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Bessie Marie Norman

March 18, 1918 - January 29, 2006