Pastor Norma Jean Price

HER LIFE:

Norma Jean Lester Price was born to the parentage of Mr. John Peyton Lester, Sr. and Mrs. Ora Lee Coppage Lester on March 5, 1933, in Memphis, Tennessee.  Norma was the twelfth and last child. Norma Jean was always a precocious child because of learning from her parents and all her brothers and sisters. At an early age she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and joined the family church, Trinity CME Church in Memphis, TN. Norma Jean’s mother Ora Lee passed away when she was just 15 years old, and she and her dad moved to Chicago to live with her sisters.

The time spent in Chicago was short because many of her schoolmates were in Memphis, and she desired to go back to finish school with her classmates. Norma Jean eventually graduated from Manassas High School in Memphis but along the way she attended school in Bolivar, Tennessee where she lived with her sister Rural and her husband Donald. After graduating high school Norma Jean attended Lemoyne- Owen College in Memphis.

HER LOVE:

Norma decided that she wanted to go back to Chicago to be with her sisters and brothers. While in Chicago she birthed her two precious children Michael and Barbara. With the assistance of family Norma surrounded her children with love and support. Since loosing her own mother at a young age Norma Jean leaned heavily upon her family to help her navigate adulthood and parenting.

In 1971 Norma Jean met and married the love of her life Archie Price. Although the two did not have children together they both loved their children and grandchildren. Norma and Archie would host family gathering at their home on 76th Street in Chicago. Norma was a fashionista and enjoyed many of the finer things in life, nice clothes, fine home with the in the wall aquarium. She and Archie were proprietors of the Gulf 76th Gas Station in Chicago while she also worked for the United States Postal Service.

HER LEGACY:

Life happened to Norma, and she had to go to Alcohol Anonymous to seek out counseling both spiritual and physical to regain the true essence of who God called her to be. Then after successfully completing rehabilitation a New Life happened to Norma and she became a living testimony of God’s Grace. She accepted her call to preach at the Carter Temple CME Church in Chicago, Illinois. From there she went on to serve at various churches in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana area. Norma Jean was known as “A High Praiser” on one occasion while she was visiting a church, she was told by a church member that her worship was distracting others and she replied, “they aren’t worshipping the God that I am worshipping.” 

Norma Jean loved spending time with her family especially her sisters DeeDee and Rural. They loved to go shopping and would always get into disagreements with each other and then they would call each other and just pick right back up again where they left off. Norma Jean was a great cook and she loved to dance at every family gathering. Norma love to travel with her daughter Barbara and son in-law Merle. Often her five great-grandchildren Jaden, Kennedy, Montana, Serenity and Brooke to Memphis/Tunica play the slots at the casinos; and visit her grandson Corky and nephew, Peris who she was instrumental in rearing.  One of her favorite sayings was “This girl is on fire!” Norma Jean was the matriarch of The Lester family, and we will all miss her.

Pastor Norma Jean Price went home to be with the Lord on December 31, 2022 at VNA Hospice Unit in Valparaiso, Indiana. Norma Jean was proceeded in death by her parents John and Ora Lester, husband Archie Price, her siblings James, Velma, Kelly, Linwood, John Jr, (Shorty), Lucille (Deedee), T.C., Millard, Rural, Chauncey and Freeman.

Norma Jean leaves to cherish her precious memory; two loving children son Michael, and daughter Barbara (Merle) Bishop; grandchildren Michael (Bridgette) Branch, Adam, Billie Jean, and Linus; great grandchildren Zakieya, Zakiaya, Michael, Damarcus, Dayonna, Damari, Adam Jr and a host of nephews, nieces and cousins.    

Celebration of Life will be Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 11am at Israel CME Church 2301 Washington Street Gary, Indiana 46407 with Minister Paris Lester to give Eulogy. Viewing will be 10am until time of service at Church. Interment will be private.

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