Willie C. Norwood

Willie C. Norwood (Willis) was born October 20, 1940 in Cleveland, Mississippi to George Norwood, Sr. and Ethel Norwood. His family later moved to Mound Bayou, Mississippi where he was raised. After high school, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he pursued his passion for education and the desire to help others. In the meantime, he was a hard worker as a CTA Bus Operator. He worked his way through school completing an Associates and a Bachelor of Arts Degree and eventually obtaining his teaching credential. He also married and started a family in the meantime and moved them to Southern California where he would eventually call home for forty-one years. Willie had over thirty-five years as a Bus Operator for both CTA and MTA and over thirty years both as an Illinois and California Educator. His hobbies were to call and check on his family, writing his book about his life and always telling his life story. He was affluent in over three different languages and was a people person. His passion for life, his family and the ability to help others was his mission, a mission well completed. His father, George Norwood, Sr., mother, Ethel Norwood, his son Adam Norwood, his brothers, Roscoe Norwood, Lavan Norwood and his sister, Annie Mary Norwood preceded him in death. Willie leaves behind to cherish his legacy, his wife - Olivia Norwood, his children - Elisa Burks, Yvonne Dantzler, and Barbara Norwood; two brothers - George Norwood, Jr. and William H. Norwood; four sisters - Dollie B. Norwood, Ethel Mims, Sylvia Norwood and Zora Norwood; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.