Norma Jean Pearson

Norma Jean Pearson, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and good friend passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, after a lengthy illness. She was surrounded by her son Dennis and her godchildren Angela and Marcus Johnson. Norma was born in Austin, Texas on November 17, 1942 to the late Johnnie Barefield and Annie Lee Barefield-Childers.

Norma and her family relocated to Saginaw, Michigan in 1947 where her father became employed by General Motors Corporation. She attended Saginaw Public Schools, graduated from Saginaw High School in 1961, and later attended nursing school graduating as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Norma was employed by Saginaw General Hospital where she worked for 11 years, thereafter completing Cosmetology School working in the field of her first choice.


Several years later Norma relocated back to Austin, Texas working in various hair salons until she opened and operated her own for several years. After retiring from cosmetology, she worked for H.E.B. as a cashier and later retired because of health challenges.


Norma loved her son, Dennis (affectionately known as Denny) with all her heart, as well as her sweet loving daughter, Kimberly Denise Barefield who preceded her in death at the age of five years old. In addition, her granddaughters Denisha and Tatiana impacted her spirit of purpose so much that it defied the physicians prediction of life expectancy. Their love for each other was so strong that she understood only God possesses the power to decide ones expiration date in His own timing. Norma spoke with her favorite sister Annie Dugan almost every day, and often with her special sister Alene Cookie Scott. She had two very special nephews, Vincent Dugan and Kevin Gregory; special cousins Virginia Ross, Faye Presley, Diane Gissendanner, Deborah Murray and the Evans family of Texas.

Norma was a member of Greater Works Baptist Church in Austin, Texas under the leadership of Reverend Leonard James, Sr. Pastor. She truly loved her church family and spoke of them often.

She also leaves to cherish her memories Troy Shackles, sisters Jennifer Haymon, and Marsha Wilson, aunts, Irene Barefield and Mary Mumphord of Victoria, Texas. Her favorite aunt, Doris Bothuel of Saginaw, Michigan, special nephew and niece Bryant and Kimberly Woody of Austin, Texas and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Special devoted friends from Saginaw, Michigan; Gloria Cormier, Carol Davis, Bette Hood, Patricia Jackson, Shirley Norman, Gina Osborne, Elizabeth Webb, Shirley Ward, Annie Pearl Wright, Alma Wyatt and many others too numerous to mention.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Kimberly Denise Barefield, father, Pastor Johnnie Barefield, mother, Annie Lee Barefield-Childers, stepmother, Charity Marie Barefield; aunts, Dorothy Martin, Charlotte Girdy, Louise Williams, Myrtle Buckner, and Lenora Kitchen; uncles, Morris Smith, Albert Cunningham, L. J. Barefield, William Cunningham, and Leon Cunningham.

The family respectfully requests that flower donations would be fresh cut flowers and not green plants.

Memorial Service: Saturday, January 23, 2016 - 11:00 a.m.
Greater Works Baptist Church
4000 Tannehill Lane
Austin, Texas 78721
(512) 926-9140 or (512) 926-3069

Officiating: Pastor Leonard James, Sr.