Norma Jean worked in Cyto- Pathology at Metropolitan Hospital for over 33 years. She was responsible for training hundreds of world-renowned oncologists, gynecologists, hematologists, and
pulmonologists who staffed the premier hospitals of North-Eastern Ohio on how to excise, curate, and screen live cells to determine malignancy. For this, she received numerous awards and accolades on her job, all while being a loving wife, raising two girls, being an active Room Parent for Taylor Nursery and Lomond Elementary, a dedicated Girl Scout Leader of Troop 1248, a member of the Black Parent Association for Shaker Schools, a faithful patron of the arts and Karamu devotee, an Elephant Key Holder for the Cleveland Zoological Society, a 60 year member of the Secret Pals, a great friend, an avid traveler and book reader, an active member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, a booster for Central State Alumni, and she actively participated in each and every event that her daughters were in; all while caring for her ailing parents in Oberlin, and a sick husband at home; and being present for the births of each of her grandchildren, and becoming a Positive Education Program Grandparent Mentor and a very vocal Autism advocate all before she retired in 2002.

Despite her hectic schedule, she always found time to do the things she loved: SHOPPING, completing her daily Plain Dealer crossword puzzle without cheating, and calling her daughters on the phone, sometimes five or six times a day.