I Used Norma To Show A Real Mother’s Love
By Sharon Crevenston
I cannot remember very much
kindness as a child. Most fear and
being exploited for other’s pleasure.
I was in an orphanage, a Lutheran
Haven Home, reform school and
several foster homes. I was physically,
mentally, and sexually abused, all
before the age of 15.
At the age of 15 I ran away from a
foster home in Maryland. I lived with.
my aunt and entered the 10th grade.
My aunt was dying. I was told to find
another place to live. I didn’t know
what to do. My aunt died and I was told
to move out. The children across the
hall allowed me to sleep on a cot in
their apartment. The trouble was the
parents spoke only Spanish. The same
day in school I was crying at my locker.
A girl named Kathy shared lockers with
me. I told her what was happening to
me and she told her mom, Norma.
Kathy had challenged her parents’ faith
when she asked them to take an
orphan into their home. Norma came
to the apartments to see if Kathy’s story
was true. When she saw it was true,
she said, “Honey, get your things, and
come home with Kathy and me.”
That was when my life began to
change. Norma said the magic word,
“home.” I did not know what a home
is where Mom and Dad love each
other, and spend time alone together.
Home is where everyone takes turns
cleaning. Home is where we worship
God on Sunday from all experiences in
our lives. Home is where Mom cooks
breakfast, packs lunches, and prepares
dinners without ceasing and never
complaining. Home is always giving
thanks before a meal. Home is where
Mom picks you up from school when
you are sick. Home is where Mom
sews your first prom dress. Home is
where your bring your first report card to
someone who really cares. Home is
where they believe the good in you.
home is where they laugh, cry and
talk. Home is where each individual is
respected. Home is where they really
listen to you. Such a short time with
Norma and so much I’ve learned.
Wes, Norma’s husband was in the
Navy and was promoted to captain
and they had orders to move to the
West Coast. They helped me to save
enough money to get into my own
apartment. I met my husband, Danny.
We fell deeply in love and were
married. Five years later my sons were
born. Then Wes was promoted to
admiral and came to the East Coast
again. Norma spent 10 days with me
after the birth of my son. She helped
me nurse my baby. Norma reassured
me I was doing such a good job. I was
a good mother. These were fun years,
full of visits and holidays together.
once again Wes was promoted and
was ordered to the West Coast.
With such praise and confidence
given to me by my adopted family,
Danny and I continued on with out
walk with the lord. My husband and I
started a puppet ministry that reached
into Moose Lodges and public schools,
Knights of Columbus gatherings’, and
Georgetown University. We ever
brought the good news to children on
television.
Once again Wes was promoted, this
time is a full four-star admiral, and
Norma accompanied him to many
countries. But this was a sad time too
because Norma was fighting cancer.
It was time for my lessons again. They
retired in Arlington and I was just 10
minutes away. I could come over
frequently. One day, I remember
coming over to clean and I found
Norma had slept all night in the chair
because the bone cancer was in her
back. As I walked in, there was a tear
streaming down her face while she
was still smiling. She turned her head
to me, whispering, “Quiet. Now, look
out the window and see the beautiful
red bird at my feeder. Doesn’t God
make beautiful things?” She met
cancer the same way she met life,
“One day at a time,” she was even the
president of the “Reach out for
Recovery” support program. When the
time came for her to go home with
Jesus, even in the midst of her pain,
she still praised God for the colorful
birds that came everyday to eat from
her bird feeder. A week before she
died, Norma asked me to come over
just to tell me she loved me. It was
then as she whispered I felt God
whispering to me, “I used Norma to
show you a real mother’s love.”
Sharon L. Crevenston is a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Va.
THE FOLLOWING EULOGY IS BY DAVID CREVENSTON HER LOVING SON
Sharon Louise Crevenston 2/21/49 to 10/22/05 56 years old.
My mother was a wise and strong individual who believed that with much persistence comes much perseverance. She never feared being misunderstood and never past judgment on people. My mother was very complex and had many facets to her personality therefore not many people in life knew her the way I got to. I had the honor and privilege of being able to understand her truest self. I was able to explore and see her true colors which were bright and beautiful and always had energy. Sharon was the type of person that could always make people laugh and smile naturally. This came to her as natural as driving a car. She truly was a unique and one of a kind person ready to help others and always putting herself last. Sharon was a mother, teacher, wonderful wife, mentor, life coach, she was truly a person of significance, of conscience. She was a wonderful mother and my best friend and someone that I could go to anytime. She will be missed much but more importantly she is in a better place now. Just as a hermit crab crawls out of its shell Sharon did so spiritually. She spiritually went on to another better life and left this physical life with plenty of good memories. My mother used to take us every year to Kings Dominion and buy us annual passes and would always love to take us there. She would love to go on roller coasters with us and the ones she did not enjoy she would love to just sit and watch us. I took my mother on a trip across the us to see beautiful sites. I will never forget when we took a helicopter aerial tour over the Grand Canyon and I got to sit in the front co-pilot seat. My mother was so proud that I could get that seat. This seat had the best view by far and I quickly offered it to my mother and she said you go head and enjoy it. That was the way she was and will be remembered by me in life always putting herself last and trying so hard to please and meet every need of the other person. At that moment I realized how much I loved my mother and being with her. We took many trips cross country to see different states. She would go anywhere in the us with me on any road trip and would love it and enjoy it. She had no fear and lived life to the fullest with maximum joy and happiness. She was a good example that we only are truly alive inside when we put our fears to the side to enjoy life to the fullest. She was a true pioneer of being free from any fear and was truly undaunted. I will miss those long drives and trips across the us with her and going to California with her to see her friend Kathy. I will cherish and treasure the lovely times we had together in our many travels and trips across many states in the us. Just to name a few we got to see Disneyland in CA & FL, the Grand Canyon, Texas, and all of Ohio together. This is something some people never get to do in a lifetime and we did this together more than once. My mother was extreme in many ways and lived her life extreme. This is a rare quality that many of us lack and instead have fear in life that prevents us from doing many things. Sharon truly was a kind warm hearted loving person. She paved the way and road for me to be impervious from fear that might prevent me from doing what I like in life and enjoying it to the fullest. Thanks Mom for doing that for me. I thought I should mention just one of many things you did for me and I will always love you.
Your Proud Son David.
THE FOLLOWING IS A 2ND EULOGY/WRITE UP ON SHARON FOR HER FUNERAL......
Sharon Crevenston
Sharon Crevenston born
Feb. 21, 1949 went to be with
our Lord after a valiant battle
with cancer on Oct. 22, 2005.
She was a member of
Mineral Baptist Church where
she was very active in the
choir. Sharon opened and
operated ABC Driving School
in 2002 in Mineral, VA and was
very successful.
A memorial service will be
held at 2 p.m. Nov. 19, 2005, at
Mineral Baptist Church,
Mineral, Virginia.
Sharon was a devoted, lov-
ing, caring wife and mother;
She is survived by her loving
husband of 38 years, Daniel
Crevenston; two sons, Jimmy
and David Crevenston; a
daughter Norma Crevenston;
two brothers Wallace and Scott
Markem.
Sharon came from an
obscure background in and out
of foster homes until she was
blessed and taken in by the
four star Admiral Wesley and
Norma Mcdonald and their
children, Kathy, Joy, Tony and
Tom of Annandale, Va. This
was a new life for Sharon, the
Mcdonalds shared God’s love
in a real Christian loving way.
She went on to meet Daniel
Crevenston in 1967, and they
married on March 15, 1968.
She graduated from
Washington Lee High School
and went on to Richmond
College for a degree in busi-
ness and driver education. She
had a government position for
over nine years, she then
formed her own daycare center
where she cared for over 200
children. Daniel and Sharon
formed a puppet ministry
where they performed in
churches, public schools, day-
care centers, hospitals,
Georgetown University, senior
citizens nursing homes and T.V
on the show God’s Good
News. They tried to bring
Christian principals, concepts,
and ideas especially to reach
children. Sharon was involved
in Women’s Christian
Ministries, renewing Love and
Aglow. She would give her tes-
timony and speak at differentSharon Crevenston bornFeb. 21, 1949 went to be withour Lord after a valiant battle with cancer on Oct. 22, 2005.She was a member ofMineral Baptist Church whereshe was very active in thechoir. Sharon opened andoperated ABC Driving Schoolin 2002 in Mineral, VA and wasvery successful.A memorial service will beheld at 2 p.m. Nov. 19, 2005, atMineral Baptist Church, Mineral, Virginia.Sharon was a devoted, lov-ing, caring wife and mother;She is survived by her lovinghusband of 38 years, DanielCrevenston; two sons, Jimmy and David Crevenston; adaughter Norma Crevenston;two brothers Wallace and ScottMarkem.Sharon came from anobscure background in and out of foster homes until she wasblessed and taken in by the four star Admiral Wesley andNorma Mcdonald and their children, Kathy, Joy, Tony andTom of Annandale, Va. Thiswas a new life for Sharon, theMcdonalds shared God’s lovein a real Christian loving way.She went on to meet DanielCrevenston in 1967, and they married on March 15, 1968.She graduated fromWashington Lee High School and went on to RichmondCollege for a degree in busi-ness and driver education. Shehad a government position for over nine years, she then formed her own daycare centerwhere she cared for over 200children. Daniel and Sharon formed a puppet ministrywhere they performed inchurches, public schools, day-care centers, hospitals,Georgetown University, seniorcitizens nursing homes and T.Von the show God’s GoodNews. They tried to bringChristian principals, concepts,and ideas especially to reachchildren. Sharon was involvedin Women’s ChristianMinistries, renewing Love andAglow. She would give her tes-timony and speak at different Churches to help encourage
other women. She never had
lessons but loved to play piano,
she even played in church
once, years ago.
The Crevenston family
would like to thank everyone
for their support during this
time.
Woodward Funeral Home,
Louisa, Virginia is handling
arrangements.
