Introducing Norma L. Burruss, a life-long member of Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) in Fredericksburg, Virginia
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 for 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 large classroom photo above was 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.
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 reproduction of the article appears below.
