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Mattie Lee Norman, 94, the widow of the late Rev. William T. Norman, died Jan. 9, 2013, in Baltimore. Pastor Gregory McNeil of Simpson UMC in Mt. Airy conducted her funeral service at the Wiley Funeral Home in Baltimore.

She was in military service as a WAC (Women’s Army Corps) during World War II. General Douglas MacArthur called the WACs "my best soldiers", adding that they worked harder, complained less, and were better disciplined than men.

She was born May 13, 1918, in Texas. She was a widow with a small son, when she married William Norman, also a widower, in 1950. At the time he was a Baptist minister, and became a Methodist Elder in 1961.

His memoir in the 1983 Journal states: “He was married for 34 years to Mattie Lee Norman, together they worked in the places assigned to them with a fine example to all.”

A highly educated pastor with several doctoral degrees, he served many churches, starting with several Baptist congregations. From 1961 to 1963, he served Reisterstown; 1964-67, at Churchville; a year at St. Matthew’s; 1969-71 at Good Hope Union in Colesville; 1972-78 at Homestead; and 1979-80 at Brightwood Park. For a year he filled in at Upper Marlboro. He died while serving Mt. Calvary UMC in Annapolis in 1982.

Mattie Norman was also highly educated, with a nursing degree she began in the Army, a Master’s in Biblical Studies and Ph.D in abnormal psychology. After the military service she worked in a variety of occupations, but for many years as a nurse.

She was active in her husband’s churches and in the communities in which they lived, and in the churches where she held membership. For the past five years, that was Simpson UMC.  She was a Certified Lay Speaker and a member of annual conference. She was always a part of the UMW in whatever churches they were in. In one of the neighborhoods she had a large children’s choir that met in her home, McNeil said.

Survivors include two sons, William Taft Norman Jr. and John Kermit Norman, a daughter, Carolyn Ann Norman Potter, seven grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She also leaves Pastor McNeil, a spiritual son who had lived in her home and served as caretaker for the past four years. “She was well loved and well known, and always ready to give,” McNeil said.

Condolences may be sent to: Gregory J. McNeil, 105 Bragg Blvd., Odenton, MD 21113-2629.