Norma Jean Brown

Norma was born December 7th, 1963 to the union of Norman and Mattie Brown. Of this union, there were four daughters; Norma was the baby.

After graduating, with honors, from DuSable High School in 1982, Norma continued her education at Illinois School of Commerce and after two years, earned an associate’s degree.

In 1987, at the age of 24, Norma declared her love and belief in Christ at Greater Holy Temple COGIC under the leadership of the late James E. Lenox. She would go on to join the church and be baptized.

Wanting to give more of herself, and because she loved singing to the Lord, Norma followed her heart and joined The Bishop E. Lenox Memorial Choir, where she was a faithful alto for a number of years.

Norma spent vast majority of her employed years as a hardworking warehouse worker. She’d later have to resign due to illness.

In early 2002, a benign tumor was discovered in Norma’s brain. While the tumor was successfully removed, the affects of treatment permanently changed her physical appearance and physical abilities.

Even while facing disadvantages, Norma continued to live and enjoy life the best she could. When she saw fit, she would attend family gatherings. She continued to visit her church home occasionally and would watch different sermons on television. And of course, nothing stopped her from listening and singing gospel music day in and day out.  John P. Kee, Daryl Coley, and Ricky Dillard were some of her favorites.

Norma was loved by everyone. She was one of those people who everyone liked. A woman with many nicknames. “Norma Rae”, “Nornie”, “Girl-Girl”, and “Big Baby” to name a few. But the most notable one was “Baldina,” which a neighbor gave to her as a baby because her hair took the longest to grow of the girls. And from then on, the rest of the neighborhood would call her the same.

On January 8th, 2021 Norma was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She would eventually be transported to hospice on February 6th, where she held on until she got the chance to spend quality time with her boys one last time. She departed this life on February 8th, 2021 at 2:27AM at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois with her baby boy Yu’Mail by her side.

Norma leaves to remember her love: Her two sons: Michael Brown and Yu’Mail Brown. One grandson: Michael Brown Jr. One granddaughter: Micah Brown. Her parents: Norman Brown of Dallas, Georgia and Mattie Brown. Three sisters: Geraldine Miller, Gwendolyn Brown, and Linda Thompson (Robert). One brother: Tariq Abdur Rahman (Dionne) of Acworth, Georgia. One special uncle: Larry Hickerson (Beverly). Host of cousins, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, and friends.
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