Norma W Sample

Norma Jean Whitson Sample was born on October 30, 1934, in Dalton, Georgia, to Robert Lee Whitson and Effie Lee Smith Whitson. She spent her early years living in several places before her family settled in the Brainerd area of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she grew up alongside her younger sister.

After graduating from City High School in Chattanooga in 1952, Norma pursued higher education at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. While there, she was active in the Baptist Student Union, attended Auburn First Baptist Church, and shared her love of music by singing in the choir and with the Auburn Women’s Octet. Norma initially set out to earn a degree in Early Childhood Education — a calling that reflected her lifelong love for teaching and nurturing young minds.

During her college years, Norma met Eugene A. “Bunny” Sample Jr. of Selma, Alabama. Their courtship endured the challenges of distance while Bunny attended training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In April 1955, he asked Norma to marry him. With her parents’ encouragement to complete her education, Norma agreed, and on July 16, 1955, she became Mrs. Eugene A. Sample Jr.

Balancing marriage, motherhood, and education, Norma demonstrated remarkable determination. She completed her coursework through a combination of study at Auburn and Fort Knox, graduating in the spring of 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. That same year, she welcomed the couple’s first child, Deborah Kaye, born October 16, 1956, at Fort Knox.

Following Bunny’s military service, the family settled in Selma, Alabama, where Norma began her teaching career in the Selma school system at Byrd School. In 1958, the family relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, where Bunny pursued new professional opportunities. Norma continued teaching, joining the Jefferson County School System in 1959. She later transferred to Cahaba Heights Elementary School, where she would spend the majority of her distinguished career.

In September 1965, Norma took a brief pause from teaching to welcome her son, Eugene A. Sample III, lovingly known as Trey. During this time, she earned her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama. Upon returning to the classroom, she taught primarily fourth grade for many years, later returning to second grade. Her leadership abilities also led her to serve as assistant principal under Mr. Dudley Stephens. Committed to lifelong learning, Norma completed advanced studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, earning her AA certification in 1973.

Norma dedicated 40 years to Cahaba Heights Community School, where she touched countless lives as a teacher, mentor, and leader. She served on numerous educational committees at both local and state levels, instructed future educators at Samford University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and conducted workshops for fellow teachers across multiple school systems.

After four decades of devoted service, Norma retired from teaching on June 1, 2001. Her legacy lives on through the generations of students she inspired, the colleagues she guided, and the family she cherished. Norma’s life was marked by faith, perseverance, and a deep commitment to education and community.

She is survived by her two children, Trey (Sue) and Debbie Sims (Lee); and her grandchildren, Grant and Blake Sims.

A private committal will be held at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, Alabama. A Celebration of life service will be held at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Vestavia, AL on Friday, February 20, at 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Philadelphia Baptist Church or to the Alzheimer's Association.