Norma Smith Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Norma Gene Bennett Smith, the only child of the late Eugene F. (Pete) Bennett and Julia M. Jones Bennett. Was born April 17, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was raised in the Scotch Bottom and Hazelwood areas. Norma was an honor student and graduated from Gladstone High School on January 24, 1961. She attended Duff’s Iron City Business Institute and received a certificate for Stenographic/Gregg on October 10, 1963. She also received a certificate for completion of the Dale Carnegie Course in Effective Speaking and Human Relations on May 8, 1988. The late Reverend Charles E. Wright baptized Norma at St. John The Evangelist Baptist Church in Hazelwood when she was eleven years old. She was an active church ministry worker from youth to an adult. She was appointed as church clerk in January 1987, office manager in January 1998 and the fourth woman trustee on July 11, 2003. Her favorite scripture was Isaiah 40:28-31 and her favorite hymn was I won’t complain. Her maternal grandmother, Maytie Harris Jones; and aunt, Pagie Harris Woods; and uncle, Eddie M. Harris, were three of the charter members of St. John The Evangelist Baptist Church. Bell Telephone Company of PA. employed Norma as service representative from January 4, 1965 until divesture on December 31, 1984. Beginning on January 1, 1985, she worked for AT&T, AT&T Communications Inc. Global Business Communications Systems and Lucent Technologies. She retired from Lucent Technologies as an account support representative on November 7, 1997. She was formerly married to Alvin L. Smith. Sr., who adopted her daughter, Marchelle. She was a former member of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society Pittsburgh Chapter. Norma is survived by her beloved daughter J. Marchelle (Marcy) Smith; a dear friend, who was like a son, Darryl McAbee, Sr.; 2 grandsons, Darryl McAbee, Jr. (wife Tanya) and Curtis McAbee, Sr, 3 great-grandsons, Jaiden Brooks, Curtis McAbee, Jr. and Julian McAbee; 2 great-granddaughters, kaMiyah McAbee and Jordan McAbee; 1 sister, Dolores Jefferson; 1 brother, Ricardo Smith; 3 nieces, Monique’ Davis, Autumn Smith and Dena Henry (husband Chuck); 3 great-nieces, Jabria Lewis, Capri Davis and Scarlett Henry; 6 great-nephews, Antoine Smith, Christopher Davis, Dominique Davis, Gabriel Davis, Pierre Davis and Blake Henry; and cousins and friends.

Tributes

Norma Smith

April 17, 1943 - January 12, 2021