Both Shiloh Old Site's Foreign Missions Ministry and Shiloh Old Site's biggest scholarship program are named after Norma Burruss, a life-long member of this congregation who had a strong heart for foreign missions work as well as students pursuing a better education.

Ms. Burruss grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She was born on December 24, 1931.

After obtaining her college degree and requisite credentials, she began teaching in the segregated Fredericksburg city schools. The photo above as well as the photo at right were taken in 1960.

After the integration of city schools, she worked primarily as a special education teacher.

Beginning in 1971, because of her great heart for the children of Africa, she served for a few years as a teacher in one of the Lott Carey mission schools. The school was in Brewerville, Liberia.

On a subsequent trip to Liberia, she was ordained as a Christian minister.

Rev. Burruss died at Mary Washington Hospital on August 21, 2000. Her body rests in the Shiloh Cemetery.

The color photo of her at right was taken in 1978.

The color photo at left was probably taken in the late 1980s or early 1990s. It was taken at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) where she was receiving an award or a certificate from the pastor, Rev. Lawrence A. Davies.

An article about Norma Burruss's decision to go to Africa appeared in the July 31, 1971, edition of the Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg's daily newspaper. A copy of the article appears below.