Mrs. Norma Jean Brown

Norma Jean Brown accepted the personal invitation to rest in the hands of the Lord peacefully at her home on Wednesday, June 26, 2019.  Norma was born to the late Josephine Woods and Jim Neeley in Grapeland, Texas along with her identical twin sister, Constance Todd on March 29, 1929.  Norma and Constance were the fifth and sixth in a family of seven children. Norma accepted Christ as her Lord and Savor at an early age.  She received the gift and baptism of the Holy Spirit, living a long life of faith dedicated to God, family, church, and to her local community expanding the platform of educational empowerment and improvement to all that came into contact with her. She was a devoted member of Buck Street Church of God in Christ in Houston, Texas. As a teenager, Norma graduated valedictorian of her class from W.R. Banks High School in Grapeland, Texas. She matriculated in higher education obtaining her Bachelor of Science Degree from the historic Huston Tillotson College of Austin, Texas As a student there; Norma joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Nu Chapter. After graduation, she obtained her teaching certificate and started the long life journey of impacting lives through her God given gift “teaching.”  In 1954, Norma was united in marriage with Isaiah Porter, Jr. who preceded her in death. To this union, two beautiful daughters were born, Constance Rene “Connie” and Debbye Eileen.  In later years, Norma met and married John Henderson Brown, Jr., who also preceded her in death, and to this union another daughter, Kathleen Yvette was born.  Norma’s passion was teaching and learning.  It was clear that she was born to be a teacher! After working in Brookshire, Texas for four years, she transitioned to Houston Independent School District. While teaching full time and raising a family, she obtained a Master of Education degree and an Administrator Certification from Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas.  Her career as an educator spanned over thirty-five years and Norma had a phenomenal work ethic. Norma worked as a classroom teacher, master teacher, staff development coordinator, and reading specialist.  Mother Brown earned numerous awards, including Teacher of the Year.  She believed ALL children were special and was concerned with their total development.  She worked tirelessly to develop, direct, nurture and love every child she encountered.   Norma was a well accomplished educator, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, friend, and neighbor.  Most importantly, she was a student of God’s Word, a prayer warrior and a soldier on the battlefield for Christ. Her faith was visible to everyone she encountered. She was preceded in death by her parents, Josephine Woods and Jim Neeley, her brothers, Tommy Wynn, Sr., Joe Woods, Elbert Comer, C.J. Woods, her sisters Amy Hicks, Constance Todd, and her beloved daughters, Debbye Eileen and Constance Renee “Connie.” Norma is survived by a very special nephew, Tommy Wynn (Jean) of Clarksville, Tennessee; her beloved daughter, Kathleen Brown-Turner (Bobby); four granddaughters, Carlise, Felysia, Alysia, and Maya; two great-grandsons, Julius and Jaden; a special goddaughter, Eden Blessed, all of Houston, Texas and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, neighbors, church members whom she dearly loved.