Norma Stephenson Griffin

1936 - 2025

Norma Stephenson Griffin

April 23, 1936 - August 14, 2025

Goldsboro, North Carolina - Norma Faye Stephenson Griffin was born on April 23, 1936, in Willow Springs, NC, and passed away on August 14, 2025, in Fayetteville, NC. She was the daughter of the late Floda and Donnie Stephenson. At the time of her death, she was a resident of Carolina Inn at Village Green in Fayetteville.

Norma enjoyed growing up on a farm in Johnston County with her parents and younger brother, surrounded by dozens of aunts, uncles and cousins living on nearby farms. Norma always reflected fondly of the hard work on the farm, wonderful times with her family, her days at Cleveland School and growing up in Providence Presbyterian Church.

From her first day in first grade, upon meeting her teacher "with sparkling eyes," Norma knew she wanted to be a teacher. Upon graduation from Cleveland High School as salutatorian, Norma matriculated to Meredith College with her goal of becoming a teacher. Although a big transition for a farm girl to step onto campus with lots of cosmopolitan city girls, Norma ultimately thrived and made lifelong friendships. Norma was a stalwart supporter of Meredith over the years and felt a great sense of pride when her daughter and niece decided to become Meredith Angels too.

Upon graduation in 1958, Norma moved to Goldsboro to fulfill her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher. Shortly after her arrival, Norma met her future husband, A. W. Griffin, Jr., at a reception he and other bachelors hosted for teachers and nurses who had recently moved to Goldsboro. They were married in 1959 and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary a month after A.W.'s death in 2019. Norma and A.W. are celebrating the same "heavenly birthday," both having passed on August 14.

Norma taught kindergarten, first grade and second grade for over 30 years in the Goldsboro City School and Wayne County School systems. She loved teaching and loved the hundreds of children she strove to inspire every day. She took her work seriously and spent late hours on many a night at the kitchen table, grading assignments and planning for the next day. Norma received numerous awards as an outstanding teacher including Goldsboro City School Teacher of the Year recognition. "If you can dream it, you can do it!" was her class motto. She lived out that motto in her innovation and dedication as an educator.

In 1988, Norma started the first Young Astronaut Chapter in Wayne County for her first-grade class and was later selected by the Young Astronaut Council to be the coordinator for the program in North Carolina. She worked to get the program into every school in Wayne County. Norma received a national Chapter Leader Award because of her leadership in forming over 200 Young Astronaut Chapters throughout North Carolina. Norma also led a group of teachers in founding and operating STARBASE Aerospace Camp, a weeklong camp residing at Seymour Johnson Airforce Base. STARBASE was established to increase rising 4th graders' interest in technology, science and mathematics through building small rockets, experiencing gravity, operating flight simulators and other similar adventures. Norma received the Christa McAuliffe Memorial Award for her contributions to elementary STEM education.

Norma was an active member and leader of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Goldsboro. Among her many responsibilities were serving as elder, chair of the worship committee, chair of the altar guild, Sunday school superintendent, and church moderator. Norma was named Elder Emerita honoring her legacy of service.

Norma embraced Goldsboro as her home from the earliest days and loved her many friends and neighbors. In her retirement years, playing Bridge with friends, the Iced Tea group, the Evergreen Garden Club, aerobics classes, neighborhood Lunch Bunch and the Traveling Tootsies were highlights of her weeks and months. Norma also enjoyed participation in the David Williams Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and the Iota Chapter of NC Delta Kappa Gamma for many years. She and her husband A.W. were enthusiastic advocates, participants and supporters of cultural and historical community events and enrichment projects.

Family was of the highest priority for Norma. Never missing a Stephenson or Griffin family reunion, wedding or funeral, Norma was her happiest when with her family at the many events and occasions she prioritized.

Norma was predeceased by her husband Alfred Wilson Griffin, Jr. (A.W.), brother James Donnie Stephenson (Emily) and brother-in-law Reginald Brown Griffin. Norma is survived by her children Donna Griffin Davenport (Russ) of Fayetteville, NC and Alfred Wilson Griffin III (Jordan) of New York, NY; grandchildren Wilson Griffin Fowler (Sapphira), Caroline Fowler Zamadics (Tom), Mary Maxton Woods (Terry), and Alfred Wilson Griffin IV; step-grandchildren Russell Emmett Davenport III (Sasha), Laura Davenport Bass (Sam), and Charlotte Davenport Adler (Ben); great-granddaughter Florence Olivia Zamadics; step-great-grandchildren Alexander Suleiman Davenport and Wes Emmett Adler; sister-in-law Cheryl Frazier Griffin.

The family would like to express gratitude to the dedication, care, grace and compassion of the staff at The Carolina Inn at Village Green over the past 7 years, the staff of Gentiva Hospice over the past 21 months, and the staff of Brown's Private Duty Service over the past 18 months.

A celebration of life service will be held Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 11:00 am at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1609 Ash Street, Goldsboro, NC, with the Rev. Dr. Tom Millay presiding. A reception and visitation will follow the service at the church. Interment will precede the service at Willow Dale Cemetery in Goldsboro in a private setting for the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to First Christian Church (Music Endowment), 1609 Ash Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530, or to The Foundation of Wayne Community College Iota DKG Scholarship, P.O. Box 8002, Goldsboro NC 27533-8002, which supports a scholarship to an education major at Wayne Community College.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.