Article by Gwen Jones, Department of Family Services
(Posted 2023 July)
Major Norma Roberts celebrated her 101st birthday in March. Her long life has been one of service to others and to God, especially during her career as an officer with The Salvation Army. Although she has never sought attention for her good works, her courage and commitment to serving those in greatest need has led to recognition and accolades in her later years, firmly establishing her legacy as a trailblazer in the history of the Salvation Army and beyond.
Norma Roberts was born into a family of trailblazing Salvationists. Her father, Brigadier James Roberts, served for 20 years in the interracial New England corps of the Salvation Army before leading a brigade of African American officers dedicated to expanding Salvation Army ministry to African American people in the segregated south. Joined by his wife, the couple worked to establish ministries throughout the south while performing community outreach. Their progress was slow and often hindered by opposition from segregationists.
Born on March 19, 1922, in Washington, D.C., Norma Roberts joined the family a year and a half after older sister Doris. At that time, Brigadier and Mrs. Roberts commanded the Washington Corps of the Salvation Army, so the girls’ upbringing was fully enmeshed with the church. “It’s not like other churches. You don’t just sit on the outside, you’re really inside. It’s just a part of your absolute life,” says Roberts.
An excellent student, Roberts attended Minor Teachers College in Washington, D.C. Upon graduating, she accepted a job with the federal government before she felt a call to service with the Salvation Army. Like her father, Roberts felt that she was called to serve in the south. “I had some kind of vision that the south needed help and that is why I wanted to go south. I remember that so clearly,” she recalls.
In 1945, Roberts applied at the Salvation Army’s Southern Territory’s School for Officer Training in Atlanta but was denied admission because of her race. Undaunted, she applied to the Salvation Army’s School for Officer Training in New York City and was accepted. After her commissioning as a Salvation Army officer in June 1947, Roberts’ first appointment was in the Women’s Social Services Department at Booth Memorial Hospital in New York City. She served at the hospital for 18 months before getting transferred to the south as she wished.
In March 1949, Roberts was sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, and put in charge of a Salvation Army center located in an impoverished African American community in east Little Rock. Recognizing the deep needs of the community, Roberts’ ministry was extensive and included children’s programs and social services. She often visited people in their homes, providing counseling and spiritual support to people experiencing marital problems, domestic abuse, and the humiliation of poverty. During her visits, she witnessed the distressing state of community member’s homes, where residents often stuffed cardboard and rags into their walls for insulation and pasted newspapers up to hide decay.
During the first year of her posting, a reporter from the Arkansas Gazette asked if he could write about her ministry in the community. The resulting article and photos documented the daily struggles and poor living conditions of the people Roberts served, spurring the public to action. A local advisory board convened to plan to build a new community center and in 1952, the new center opened, providing a place for residents to gather, socialize, and enjoy recreation. Roberts remained at her post in Little Rock for 13 years. Despite the difficult conditions, she recalls the time she spent there with fondness, especially her work with the children, saying “I wonder if some of the young people are still living. I don’t know.”
After Little Rock, Roberts continued to serve in the south – first in Louisville, Kentucky, and then Tulsa, Oklahoma, before joining the staff of the School for Officer Training in Atlanta. With this appointment, she became the first African American officer to serve on staff at the school. During this time, Roberts also completed her master’s degree in social work.
While Roberts was deployed at locations throughout the south, her sister Doris lived and worked in Washington, D.C. but the sisters kept in touch and maintained a close friendship. Recalling Doris, Roberts said, “She’s the most wonderful person you ever met. She had more intelligence than I had.”
Robert’s final appointment in her career was another first. As territorial social services secretary, she became the first African American Salvation Army officer assigned to the Southern Territorial Headquarters. During her final years of service, Roberts also wrote a book about the history of African American Salvationists, titled “The Black Salvationist.” After 38 years of service with the Salvation Army, Major Norma Roberts retired in June 1985.
Following her retirement, Roberts continued to be active in The Salvation Army of Fairfax while living in a nearby retirement community. She became close friends with fellow church member, Nan Tolbert, attending a weekly Bible study and celebrating Thanksgiving together.
As Roberts neared the century mark, her service with The Salvation Army and the barriers she broke during her career began to garner greater attention and examination. Roberts herself never sought acclaim for her work, believing that she was simply answering God’s calling.
In June 2021, Norma Roberts received the Order of the Founder, the highest honor for distinguished service in The Salvation Army. The commendation, signed by General Brian Peddle, world leader of The Salvation Army, states the reason for the honor: “In recognition of her long and distinguished ministry which has pioneered the advancement and leadership influence of officers of African American descent, particularly in the USA Southern Territory. Her faithful service to impoverished, oppressed, and disenfranchised individuals reflects the highest standards of salvation.”
One year later, coinciding with her 100th birthday and in honor of her life of service, the Major Norma Roberts conference room was dedicated at Salvation Army National Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The room features a wall of framed photos of Roberts, documenting her years of service and ministry.
Today, Norma Roberts lives a quiet life in an assisted living facility in Fairfax, where she enjoys visits from her dear friend Ms. Tolbert. She greatly misses her sister Doris, who passed away 20 years ago. Looking back on her life and her accolades, Roberts is both grateful and humble. She credits her faith for all she achieved during her lifetime, saying, “I didn’t think about accomplishing anything, I just did the work of God. I just wanted to do right.”
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).