Norma J. Manns

On the afternoon of December 21, 2025, Norma Jean Manns passed away, just a few weeks away from her 90th birthday. She was the daughter of Leon Little and Lola Mae Harris, and was born in Atlanta, Georgia, at Grady Hospital on January 9, 1936.
As a young child, Norma moved to Brooklyn, New York, with her parents. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1953, she attended Hampton Institute in Virginia, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Norma returned to New York in 1958 and began her nursing career at the Veterans Administration Hospital in the Bronx, New York. It was during her time there that she met Robert Manns, whom she married in 1964.
In 1970, the couple settled in Montclair, New Jersey, where they raised their two sons, Christopher Robert (born 1965) and Russell Timothy (born 1968). Norma furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Arts from New York University in 1978. Her career with the Veterans Administration Hospital system spanned decades, concluding with her retirement in 1992 as Assistant Chief Nurse.
In addition to being a loving wife and mother, Norma was deeply involved in her community, serving as a board member for the New Jersey American Red Cross and for the League of Women Voters. She was also a dedicated member and Deaconess Emeritus of Bloomfield's New Light Baptist Church. In 2020, she and Robert moved to Crofton, Maryland where they lived until her passing.
Norma is survived by her husband, Robert; her sons, Christopher and Russell; four grandchildren, Alexis, Erica, Tatjana, and Jason; three great-grandchildren, Ava, Anthony, and Coco; and a large circle of extended family and friends.
She is deeply loved and will be missed by all.