Mary Ola Williams-Norwood

Obituary Please Click Link Below for Mrs. Mary Norwood Live Funeral ServicesMrs. Mary Norwood 11:00 AM Live Funeral Services, Friday, April 24, 2020Mary O. Williams Norwood was born on April 21,1934 in Sumter, SC to the late Earnest and Lula Mae Sanders Williams Sr.Mary accepted Christ at an early age she was a member of Union Station AME Church located in Sumter SC. Later in life she became a Jehovah Witness. Mary was educated in the public schools of Sumter, SC. She attended Stone Hill Elementary and Lincoln HS. Mary later moved to NYC where she received her nursing degree. It was there that she met her husband of fifty-five years Sgt. Thomas Norwood of the United States Army and they moved to Kentucky.After Thomas retired from the Army they relocated to Brooklyn, New York. Mary gained employment with Menorah Nursing Home as a nurse and remained there until her retirement.Mary was a family person. She loved her family unconditionally. She believed deeply in family values. She worked overnight so she could be at home with her children during the day. Mary would help anyone in need. She opened her home to many family and friends. Friends and family would joke Mary saying that they were going to put a sign on her front door stating, "Mary's Community Center and all are welcome".Mary and husband were foster parents to over thirty children. Mary would not allow anyone to refer to them other than her children. Mary's passion for doing what was right by them led her to become one of the founders of The New York State Foster and Adoptive Parents Association. She received many awards and accolades including one from the Governor of New York. She held many titles within the organization including president. Mary was also the Regional VP for the National Foster Parent Association.Mary had such a calm demeanor she very rarely raised her voice. But her children knew she meant business when she called their whole government name. Mary was very instrumental in organizing annual family reunions. Mary was an active member of her block Association. Mary loved being around family and taking family trips. Mary was incredibly supportive in her family activities she made her presence known among her grandchildren by attending graduations,recitals, football, and basketball games etc. If you called her, she was coming and if she could not be there, she would delegate someone to represent her. Her Beautiful smile and warm, inviting personality will be treasured by all who had the pleasure of knowing and loving her.Mary transition on April 6, 2020 with her loved ones by her side.In addition to her parents Mary was preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Knight and Anna Mae Richardson, a brother, Paul Williams, her cousins, Zurie and Rosa lee Scarborough and a uncle, William Blanding Jr. who was instrumental in raising her.Mary will live in the hearts of her husband ,Thomas J. Norwood, her children, Marie (Anthony), Darnell (Roxanne), Michael, Tyson, Kulunji, Tracey, Patricia, Keyianna, Timothy, Alexander and AJ; former daughter in law, Yolanda; twenty-one grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; her siblings, Emma who spoiled her, Earnest Jr, Beverly; special nieces, and nephew Trish, Debbie, Cheryl, Warren Jr; her in-laws, Gladys whom she was awfully close with, Herman (Tessie), Richard (Dottie), Naomi (William), Annie L. and Barbara; two special cousins, Drefus Williams and Gladys Harvin; she held a special affection to Rene Bess who she called her little sister and Ena Softley whom she called her daughter and a host of nieces, nephews other family and friends. Public Viewing 10:00 am - 10:45 am Friday, April 24, 2020 Whites Mortuary LLC 517 N Guignard Drive Sumter, South Carolina, United States 29150 Worship Experience 11:00 am Friday, April 24, 2020 Whites Mortuary LLC 517 N Guignard Drive Sumter, South Carolina, United States 29150 To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Ola Williams-Norwood, please visit our floral store.