[NFBV-Announce] Member to member, let's get to know each other! Norma Bateman

[jackibruce6 at gmail.com]

Welcome to another edition of member to member! This week, Norma Bateman
from our Greater Williamsburg Chapter is in the spotlight. Nroma has been
with our NFB Family for about two years now. She attended our Silver Bells
Program with Maggie Phillips, highlighted earlier. This is her second year
being involved with our BEAM walk and you'll see her smiling face at the
majority of our chapter meetings. She enjoys helping people and would like
to see more social gatherings and the ability to get to know others in the
chapter and around the NFB.

 

Norma has been a volunteer with the Red Cross and has been a driver for
Faith in Action, a non profit who provides rides for seniors and people who
are unable to drive. She teaches Sunday School and is very involved with
Church.  Norma was born in West Jefferson, N.C. and she was raised in
Gatlinburg, Tennessee. "I love the mountains! My house had a creek in the
yard; it was beautiful."  Norma was born hard of hearing, no one realized it
for a long time "I was really good at lip reading. No one knew until one day
my Dad came up behind me and was trying to get my attention, I didn't
acknowledge him until he was right in front of me." There wasn't anything
the Doctors could do so they told her Dad not to worry about her because she
developed such a skill lip reading. She had two older brothers, one died;
her Mom died when she was 17; "if I had one wish, it would be to see Mother
again." and her Dad raised her and her brothers. Norma came to Williamsburg
in 1960 and graduated from James Blair High School and Hampton Roads
Business College.   She worked for The College of William and Mary. She was
in the purchasing department where she started as a Secretary. Through the
years, she advanced to become Treasurer! The first woman to ever hold that
position; way to go Norma!  Norma has one adopted daughter, Faye, and two
Grand daughters, who live near her. 

 

Ok guys, you have to sit down for this one.Norma thinks her NFB Family would
be surprised to know that she was in a gang when she was younger! Yes, that
was a shocker for me. "The girl who lead the gang kind of tricked me into
joining. Once I joined, there was a boy who threatened me, with my life, if
I did anything to upset the gang. I stayed in line because I was scared. My
initiation was to beat up the Pastor's Son. He and I were friends so I told
him to fight me and let me win so I wouldn't be beat up by the other gang
members. Soon after, I found God and became a Christian; I asked the leader
to let me out and thankfully, she did. My family moved shortly after that so
I wasn't looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life. Interesting
times!!" 

 

Norma would love to have dinner with Billy Graham. "He's such an
inspiration! I've followed him for many years and still watch his show, of
course they're reruns, to this day."

 

Thank you, Norma, for sharing your story and allowing us to get to know you
better! Stay tuned for another edition of member to member next week.

 

 

Peace,

 

Jacki Bruce

 

Corresponding Secretary NFBV

mailto:jackibruce6 at gmail.com

tel:(757)291-1789

 

Membership Chair

mailto:membership at nfbv.org

 

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STRONGER TOGETHER!

 

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