Martha Ann Norris Gilbert

Obituary For Martha Ann Norris Gilbert

Graveside service will be held at 12 noon Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery, Kilmarnock Va. Reverend Michael Reed, Interim Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church Officiating. A memorial service will be held in 2021. NOTICE In compliance with state-mandated guidelines to slow the spread of Covid-19 EVERYONE MUST wear a mask or face covering and social distancing is required.

Scott’s Funeral Home Richmond, VA, and Campbell Funeral Home Kilmarnock, VA are handling arrangements.

Martha N. Gilbert, of Richmond, died December 1, 2020, of Richmond, departed this life December 1, 2020. She was A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN; A MENTOR TO CANCER SURVIVORS. Martha had two roles in life, a fierce advocate for children and an advisor to cancer survivors. One role was a childhood ambition; the other was thrust upon her by fate. Upon graduation from Hampton Institute, she literally “flew” to New York City where she started out teaching preschoolers at the prestigious Dalton School and the Manhattan Country School where she subsequently served on the Board of Trustees. In 1977, she joined her childhood friend, the abstract painter Betty Blayton Taylor, at the Harlem Children’s Art Carnival that Betty had founded. She served as Educational Director there until 1981. Martha’s work in elementary education came to the attention of the visionary Virginia Governor Charles Robb who recruited her in 1982 to head a new agency that he had created – The Department for Children. In 1991 she moved to the Virginia Department of Education and initiated the preschool program for at-risk four year- olds. In 1995 she was appointed Director of Special Projects and Personnel for Powhatan county. As aptly put by one of her best friends, Gayle Turner, Martha was a “gentle force’ in early childhood education. Her work was acknowledged in Virginia House of Resolution 67 which was passed February 15, 1991. Martha, in general, was a “force” in Richmond. She was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, a member of the James River Valley Chapter of The Links, Inc., and a member of the Bon Tons. She received numerous accolades and awards. Just before returning to Virginia in 1981, she married Robert “Bobby” Gilbert, a graduate of Howard University. “Bobby” by vocation was a parole office, and by avocation a sociologist, psychologist, mentor, and a mischievous brain teaser. With impeccable logic, he could tie you in knots with his Socratic questioning. Martha and Bobby were a fascinating and engaging couple, never pretentious, nor ostentatious, just plain folk, they were a lot of fun. Martha was humming along at her prodigious pace in 2000 when she was struck by inoperable lung cancer. The prognosis was “one year to live.” This prognosis was overly pessimistic. She was fortunate to have had an early diagnosis by her astute primary physician and treatment by a superior oncologist. She then moved into a new role for which she had not auditioned but took on with alacrity. She was a mentor to numerous cancer survivors, freely dispensing advice and encouragement. Five years later, cancer struck again. The diagnosis was Metastatic lung cancer to the brain. This time the prognosis was even direr. Metastatic brain cancer from the lung was a virtual death sentence, but not for long Martha. Summoning up an adage from her dad, “I have no white flag,” and with the aid of a virtuoso neurosurgeon and irradiation, she shrugged off that prognosis too. There is so much the human body can take and there is no question that chemotherapy and irradiation, while lifesaving, have devastating side effects. That double jeopardy ravaged Martha’s body, but not her spirit. Martha’s characteristic ebullience was blunted, but she remained as gracious and appreciative as ever. She never failed to acknowledge the smallest gesture of kindness with a smile and a “Thank You.” She died peacefully on December 1, 2020. She was born April 24, 1938, the youngest of 9 children of the late Dr. Morgan E. and Theresita Norris. Her father was the first Black physician to practice in the Northern Neck and her mother was a homemaker, pianist, church organist, and community worker. Martha was recognized early on to have been endowed with the graciousness and charm of her mother and the tempered steel of her father. She grew up in Kilmarnock VA, attended the Morgan E. Norris Elementary School, and graduated from A.T. Wright High School in 1954. She graduated with honors from Hampton Institute (now University) in the field of Elementary Education in 1958. Her schoolmates rewarded the popular and pretty student with the title of Miss Hampton in her senior year and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity selected her as its “Sweetheart.” Martha was indeed a sweetheart and she never saw a child that she didn’t like. Her single delight in life was engaging with children. Martha leaves to mourn her loss a brother, James E. C. Norris, M.D.(Motoko) of New York City; stepdaughter, Diana Gilbert of Charlotte, N.C; godson, David Randolph, M.D. of Richmond VA; 9 nieces and nephews; 13 grandnieces and grandnephews; one great-grandnephew; two great- grandnieces; many cousins and many, many friends.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Morgan E. Norris Endowed Scholarship fund at Hampton University, C/O Development Office, Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23668