Kathy Elaine Norwood

TO everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; ECCLESIATES 3:1-2 (NKJV)

Obituary

ON February 11, 2025, Ms. Kathy Elaine Norwood, transitioned from this life to her Heavenly home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ at the age of 71.

KATHY ELAINE NORWOOD started her journey March 18, 1953, in Colorado Springs, Colorado at Fort Carson Airforce Base, she was the 1st born to Raymond Earl Norwood and Faye Dell Henderson Norwood. At an early age her family moved to Dallas, Texas. She attended elementary school at George Washington Carver, Junior high school at Sequoyah Jr. High, and high school at L. G. Pinkston High where she graduated with honors and a licensed Cosmetologist.

Kathy had her 1st born, Derick Lamont Norwood, in February of 1973. She later married Charles Michael Singleton, and from this union Michael ShaBrone Singleton was born in May 1976.

Kathy was introduced to Christ at an early age. She was baptized as a youth at Community Baptist Church under the guidance of Rev. C. C. Robinson. Years later as an adult Kathy moved her membership to Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church under the guidance of Rev. J. C. Huey where she and her two sons attended and participated. During her time at Goodwill, she sang in the senior choir, she organized and lead the 1st Nurses Guild Auxiliary Ministry at Goodwill. She was a Deaconess, and she substituted as a Sunday School teacher; Rev. Huey encouraged her to enroll at Southern Bible Institute where she attended for 1 1/2 years. She also served in the Dallas Southern Baptist Convention under the guidance of Rev. Huey; and she would speak on different occasions at Goodwill and other churches when called on.

Years later, after the passing of Rev. Huey, a new pastor was installed, Rev. D. M. Cotton, and under his guidance Kathy organized and lead the 1st Intercessory Prayer Ministry at Goodwill. She was often called on by Pastor Cotton to lead the Alta Prayer during Sunday morning church service. She would often travel to other churches to engage in Intercessory Prayer Meetings from late hours in the night to sunrise the next morning.

Kathy always believed that God had called her to serve others and care for the sick. She began working at the age of 15years. Her first job was at Golden Acers Jewish Nursing Home as a Nurses Aid. By the time she was in her early 20s she was working at Baylor Hospital as a Certified EKG Technician as Lead Tech. She was always looking for ways to improve and learn more. She found employment at St Paul Hospital as a Stress Test Technician, after completion of that certification she found employment at Children's Hospital in the Critical Intensive Care Unit. She decided to further her education and started working at Parkland Memorial Hospital for many years; 1st in the Burn Unit, then in Neurology. During this time, she re-enrolled at El Centro Jr. College nursing program. Eventually, transferring to Ophthalmology where she became a Certified Ophthalmic Nurse and head of the Minor Surgery Department.

After 10 years she left Parkland and entered the private sector, working in the Home Health Care Industry; she became a Certified Red Cross and American Heart Association teacher, certifying new employees in (CPR) Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, as well teaching and certifying new aids to become Home Health Aids (on how to give in-home care to the elderly). Kathy also used this skill later at her church when she created the “Candy Stripers, “teaching teen girls that were interested in a nursing career. She also attended night classes for the Federal Correctional Institute Prison Ministry at Baylor Hospital, she became a Certified Prison Chaplin and went to the Seagoville Prison on Saturdays to minister (devotion -sharing in the scriptures), as well as singing and pray with the inmates.

In the early 1990s she began working as Office Manager/Optician at Eye Care Vision Center for Dr. Elliot Stendig and Dr. Mark Ruiz, she worked there for 10 years. She relocated to Las Vagas Navada where she worked for the brother of Dr. Stendig at his Las Vegas Medical Practice for a short time. Upon returning to Dallas, she began working for The Retina Institute of Texas as the Lead Tech., Certified Retina Technician until her retirement in 2013.

Kathy moved to Residents at The Oaks Senior Apartments in December of 2013. In 2014 she saw the need and an opportunity to start a Prayer Minister after attending Bible Study for the seniors who lived there. She would have prayer services weekly, and prayer workshops. Management and the residents were pleased, and very supportive.

In 2017, Kathy decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and further her education at the age of 64 years. She enrolled at Mountain View College, graduated May16,2019 with honors receiving her Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology. In April of 2019 she received her certification in The National Society of Leadership and Success. She went on to enroll at University of North Texas at Dallas as a double major, graduated on December 31, 2021, Magna Cum Laude, receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Psychology. During her time at UNT-Dallas she was awarded certification as a QPR Gatekeeper for the Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Program; and May 2021 she was inducted into the Alpa Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society (Alpha Cau of Texas).

Kathy went to live with her son Derick due to declining health in December 2020. After graduating in December of 2021, the following year, in the spring of 2022 Kathy began working with the City of Dallas and attending community meetings once a month to improve the neighborhood. She played a key role in making the neighborhood clean and safe.

Kathy was a God-fearing woman that loved the Lord and live her life by faith. She was a born leader, and wherever she went, her community, church, work, or school, her leadership skills were always noticed and acknowledged. She loved her family, her church, and her community. She was very concerned about culture and social policy in this country and loved dabbling in politics and history. She was always ready to do whatever she could to serve others, she always had empathy and compassion for the less fortunate and the sick and suffering. Kathy loved all types of music, her favorites were gospel spirituals, classical, and jazz; she would often say, “prayer and music is healing and good for the soul”; and she loved meeting people from other countries, learning about the foods they ate, their culture, history, traditions, spiritual and religious practices; her belief was, meeting people from other parts of the world and traveling was an education within itself. Kathy had several hobbies, she enjoyed crochet, reading, watching educational documentaries, and walking. But most of all, her sons, grandchildren, and great-grandson were at the center of her world. After she retired due to her health, she read the Holy Bible in a year for 2 years back-to-back; she loved studying scripture and researching biblical history.

Kathy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the late summer of 2022. She geared up to fight to live. She realized the importance of helping others and decided to do her part in contributing to pancreatic cancer research at UTSW Medical Center with the hope of a cure for pancreatic cancer for future generations.

Kathy battled pancreatic cancer for several years, she would always say, “it’s not over until God say it’s over, I put all my faith in Him.” God called her home and brought her to her final resting place and said, “Well done my good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord”. Matt. 25:21(NKJV).

PRECEDING her in death: Raymond Earl Norwood, father; Ben Norwood, grandfather; Bethal Norwood, grandmother; Edgar Henderson, grandfather, Velma Willard, grandmother, Makallah Imani Muhammad, granddaughter; Jack, Edgar Jr., Willie H., Lloyd Norwood, uncles; Ethel Reene, Katha Louise, Norma Lee, and Mae Norwood, aunts; Jeffery (Butch), Clark, Ray, Kenneth, and Sandra Diane, cousins; Rueben L. Edwards, Derick’s father.

SHE leaves to cherish her memories: Faye Dell Norwood, mother; her loving sons Derick L. Norwood, Dallas, Texas; Michael S. Muhammad, Pheonix, Arizona; sister Vickie G. Norwood, Dallas, Texas; nephew Colandra J. Norwood (CJ), Alanta, Georgia; grandchildren, Keziah Elaine Norwood, Eldorado, Arkansas; Sumayah Elaine Muhammad, Houston, Texas; Tariq, Sadiq, Malik, Crew, and Indie Muhammad, all of Pheonix Arizona; Eliza Muhammad; great-grand-daughter of Phoenix, Arizona; Myheir Kross McLaroy, great grandson of Eldorado Arkansas; Charles M. Singleton (Monty), Michael’s father, and a host of friends and other relatives.

Special thanks to “Jenn” Jennifer Nelson for all of her love, care and support.

“But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah. Psalm 49:15 (NKJV)

Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. John 11:25-26a (NKJV)

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the UTSW Cancer Center; Pancreatic Cancer Research Department.