MRS. NORMA JOHNSON WESTMORELAND, DAUGHTER OF THE LATE DEACON OCIE P. & MRS. ESSIE He JOHNSON WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 5, 1937 IN AIKEN COUNTY, SC. SHE WAS RAISED WITH LOVE, STRENGTH, AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT. NORMA WAS BAPTIZED AND JOINED SMYRNA BAPTIST CHURCH AT AN EARLY AGE AND WENT ON TO JOIN FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN CHARLOTTE, NC. SHE LOVED THE LORD AND SERVED FAITHFULLY UNTIL HER LAST DAY.

NORMA RECEIVED HER EARLY EDUCATION IN AIKEN COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE SHE EXCELLED ACADEMICALLY AND BUILT LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS. SHE COMPLETED HER UNDERGRADUATE & GRADUATE DEGREES AT ALLEN UNIVERSITY IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE, & THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, RESPECTIVELY.

WHETHER IT WAS HER INFECTIOUS LAUGHTER, HER CARING NATURE, OR HER ABILITY TO TURN ANY MOMENT INTO A CHERISHED MEMORY, SHE WAS A GIFT TO ALL WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING HER. SHE WAS A GIFTED ATHLETE WHO PLAYED BASKETBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE. SHE ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY PROFESSIONALLY; HOWEVER, SHE DID NOT WANT TO BE AWAY FROM FAMILY. NORMA ALWAYS SHOWED A TREMENDOUS COMMITMENT TO FAMILY. A HARDWORKING AND AMBITIOUS INDIVIDUAL, SHE PURSUED A CAREER IN EDUCATION, WHERE HER DEDICATION AND PASSION LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS ALIKE. SHE WAS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO HER WORK, AND LOVED KIDS; ALWAYS STRIVING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND LEAVE A POSITIVE MARK ON THE WORLD.

BEYOND THE WALLS OF HER SCHOOL BUILDING, NORMA WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED, SUCCESSFUL, ENTREPRENEUR. A WOMAN OF MANY PASSIONS, SHE FOUND JOY IN BEING A LIFELONG MEMBER OF THE EASTERN STAR, HOLDING MANY HIGH OFFICES AND HONORS/AWARDS. SHE EMBRACED EVERY EXPERIENCE WITH ENTHUSIASM AND LOVE.  

MORE THAN ANYTHING, NORMA WAS DEVOTED TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SHE CHERISHED HER RELATIONSHIPS AND WAS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH, LAUGHTER, WISDOM, AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO NEEDED HER. TRULY HANDS ON. SHE NEVER MET A STRANGER. HER LOVE FOR HER FATHER, SON, SIBLINGS, AND GRANDCHILDREN KNEW NO BOUNDS, AND SHE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN BEING A LOYAL DAUGHTER, SISTER, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND FRIEND. SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER LOVING AND FAITHFUL SON UNTIL THE LAST SECOND, JEROME (ELLEN) "MAGIC" JOHNSON, BROTHER, LEWIS (ANN) JOHNSON OF AIKEN, S.C., GRANDCHILDREN, CHANDRA JOHNSON-NIXON & JUSTIN (SHANIQJA) JOHNSON BOTH OF CHARLOTTE, N.C. GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, TREMANE JOHNSON, JOSHUA JENKINS, BRIANNA NIXON, AND JUSTIN JOHNSON JR., GODCHILDREN RANDY WAYMER, DEBORAH IVEY, SANDRA (RONALD) HARDIN, SISTER BY HEART, HATTIE EAVES, AND A HOST OF MENTEES, RELATIVES, AND DEAR FRIENDS.