Norma Carolyn Maiden

On Monday, March 6, 2006, a strong woman of grace quietly departed this life. Born to Hermione and Royce Potts on April 24, 1917. Norma was the oldest sister to Iris and Royce who preceded her in death. Norma was born in Brooklyn, New York, where the family resided during her elementary and early high school years before moving to St. Albans, Queens, New York.She received her B S degree from Hunter College and M S degree in Community Nutrition from Columbia University. Post graduate studies were continued at Penn State University and the Johns Hopkins University.In 1962, she married Clarence Maiden. They had one daughter, Cathy and two grandsons, Roosevelt and Jason who loved and fondly referred to her as “ Nana”.During World War II, Norma worked as a chemist in the United States Signal corps in Fort Mammouth, N.J. In 1947 she joined the faculty of Tennessee A and T State University as an instructor in Foods and Nutrition. In 1951 she moved to Baltimore where she worked for the U. S. Department of Agriculture in Human Nutrition Research until she joined the faculty of Morgan State University. At Morgan she taught courses in Food and Nutrition until her retirement in 1982. During her tenure at Morgan, Norma wore many hats. She conducted research with federal grant funds. She and her family had great fun when she did a “ Home Segment” twice weekly on Channel 13’s early Entertainment Tonight program. She was a guest lecturer in nutrition for the nursing programs at Coppin State College and Essex Community College. She served as interim chairperson for the Department of Human Ecology at Morgan. During a five year leave from Morgan she served as Chief of Nutrition Services at Morgan. During a five year leave from Morgan she served as Chief of Nutrition Services at the Community Pediatric Center of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.Before and after her retirement, Norma found time for volunteer work. She served several years on the board of Meals on Wheels. She worked as a member of the Community Site Committee and with the Speakers Bureau of the American Heart Association. She also served on the Maryland Committees for Children. Norma worked with the Maryland Food Committee, especially the Food Panty Programs. Norma enjoyed working with people sharing her knowledge and expertise.In her church, she served as a member of the Vestry and on committees for the Diocese of Maryland. She was a member of the committee for Cross Roads and the endowment and Grants Ministry. She was also a member of the Church Club and the Choir.She loved to travel and with Clarence and enjoyed years of cruising to many lands. At home she was busy with friends in bridge clubs, the Daytimes, the Echoes, the Monday Niters and Poker Clubs. Other clubs included WNM’s, the Modern Grannies Precious Collections and the Red Hat Club. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Sorority. Norma active in of her professional organizations and in the Hunter College Alumni Association of Baltimore, serving two terms as its president.Opera was her favorite musical genre she became somewhat of and opera buff.Norma was preceded in death by her husband Clarence and her siblings, Iris and Royce. Norma is survived by her daughter Cathy Johnson, grandson, Roosevelt Adams, III and Jason Lamar Adams, son-in-law, James Johnson, a dear friend, Ivy Harris and a host of other relatives and friends, who will always love and keep her in memory.Most of us remember her ability to “get along” with a diversity of people, earning the affectionate title of “Nice Norma”. She was patient, empathetic, caring, slow to anger and didn’t not harbor a grudge. She wants us to remember her days among us like one of her favorite quotes….“I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one I’d like to leave and after-glow when life is done I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly downward Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days I’d hope the tears of those who grieve will dry amid the fun Of the memories I will leave when my life is done”.And now, Dear Family and FriendsThank you for sharing my life with me-for contributing to my many joys and blessings-for your sympathy and caring when I hurt or sorrowed-for helping me when I was down or up-for understanding me and enduring and forgivingAnd now that I am no longer with you, do not mourn or weep-when you hear the Costa Diva from Norma or and old Ella Fitzgerald ballad-when you sit on the deck of a cruse ship listening to the waves gently lapping at its sides-when you read a love story or a great mystery novel -when you bid and make seven No trump-when you enjoy and unexpected breeze on a hot and sticky day Remember I am only a memory awayGod wanted me now, He set me free.

Tributes

Norma Carolyn Maiden

April 24, 1917 - March 6, 2006