Norma Lorraine Wood

NORMA LORRAINE ROSS was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 5, 1926, the older of two children from the union of James Harrison Ross, Sr. and Lessie Rich. Their mother passed when Norma was just three years old leaving her and James, Jr. to be raised by their father. Their father then moved to his family home in Bena, Virginia where he received assistance in raising his children. Norma and her brother spent their early school years in Virginia until they relocated back to Baltimore where they continued their education in Baltimore Public Schools. In September 1940, their father married Jessie Jones. Norma graduated from Douglass High School in 1946 and furthered her education by attending Cortez Peters Business School for two years. Norma was united in marriage to William E. Jackson on August 10, 1946. Together they raised two daughters, Marsha Ann and Joyce Elaine. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1960. Norma later married Robert O. Wood in February 1963. This marriage ended in divorce in November 1973. Norma worked for Social Security in Baltimore until 1957. She was then employed in Washington, D.C. by the U.S. Government Agency for International Development (AID).There she worked for thirty years until she retired in 1981, commuting between Baltimore and D.C. Soon after retiring, she obtained employment at Baltimore Sound as a receptionist.Her tenure there ended after ten years when the company closed. She then volunteered at the Randallstown Senior Citizen Center. Norma has been a faithful member of Douglas Memorial Community Church for over 60 years. She loved her church where she played a vital role. She was an active member of the Usher Board, served as a Steward and also volunteered for the church sponsored Meals on Wheels program. She participated in the virtual weekly Sunday morning worship services during her last years. Norma loved spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed raising her daughters, bowling, solving puzzles, and going to the casino. Numerous words can describe Norma’s attributes. She was caring, kind, gentle wise, strong and gracious. Norma leaves to cherish her beautiful memory, her daughters, Marsha and Joyce, her grand-daughter, Lauren (Patrick), great grand-daughter Amina and her loving nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her loving brother, James Harrison Ross, Jr.

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Norma Lorraine Wood

August 5, 1926 - December 7, 2024