Norma Carole McDonald’s son Michael and Friends member Karen Moore look through two of the books in the new children’s collection dedicated in Mrs. McDonald’s memory. McDonald was a long-time member of the Friends board. (Sherry Matthews|Mountolivetribune.com
Michael McDonald and Karen Moore pose in front of the new Friends collection of books recently dedicated in his mother’s memory. (Sherry Matthews|Mountolivetribune.com)
Norma Carole McDonald knew how to be a friend. A devout Christian and long-time educator who was active in her native Mount Olive and far beyond — nearly up until her last day — she was, by all accounts, one of the most beloved individuals in the Wayne County town.
For all those reasons and, according to Karen Moore, many others, the Friends of the Steele Memorial Library believed it only fitting to donate an assortment of books in McDonald’s memory.
Moore, a Friends member, was at the library earlier this week along with one of McDonald’s two sons, Michael, to show off the new collection and talk about the woman so many still hold dear in their hearts.
“This just seems like the perfect contribution to memorialize her,” Moore said. “We wanted to do something, and putting books in the library seemed appropriate. I think she would have loved it.”
Son Michael nodded in agreement, choking back tears. “She was a lifelong educator and lover of books. To have books placed in this library she loved, books that will go in the hands of children, would have made her very, very happy.
“Our entire family is humbled by this act of kindness toward our mother. She was everything to us.”
The collection of books, Moore said, is centrally focused on friends and friendship — with themes like how to be a good friend and how not to be a bully. It is, the Friends member said, a good collection that children can relate to and enjoy.
“We are very excited that we were able to provide this collection, particularly to do something in memory of someone who has given so much to the library and the community,” Moore said.
McDonald was a long-time member of the Friends of the Library board. “Oh, at least 25 years,” Moore noted, “probably more.” She was instrumental in raising funds for the local library as well as the town’s historical society, just to name a couple of places where her active fund-raising involvement can be noted.
Also active in various aspects of the communmity she held so dear, McDonald served on nearly every board or organization around. In fact, her son said, that was probably an understatement. “She loved being a part of the community and serving very actively in the local organizataions. She was not a member in name only.”
She was also a lifelong educator, who earned both Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year honors. During her tenure, she taught for a brief period at Brogden Elementary, eventually becoming a long-time seventh-grade math teacher at Mount Olive Jr. High in the late 1980s. She transitioned into administration and was an assistant principal at Chinquapin Elementary and Charity Middle schools in Duplin County. She finished her educational career as the principal at North Duplin Elementary where she was lovingly referred to as “the coach.”
According to a tribute centrally located on bookshelves in the library’s children’s wing, many of McDonald’s former students expressed how much she cared about them and gave of her time to them. One of those students stated, the tribute reads, “she believed in me as a young child and her love and nurture followed me into adulthood.”
Those were qualities son Michael said clearly described the kind of caring woman his mother was.
“She did everything she could to nurture people, particulary young people. She cared about them, cared about their salvation. In fact, she was concerned about everyone’s salvation.”
A long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Mount Olive, McDonald, who died in April at the age of 81, was known for handwriting Bible verses inside devotions she always gave to others. She also had a strong desire to encourage others to take time to visit the Holy Land, an experience that brought her deep joy, one she wanted to share with others.
“I think the family will be taking that trip,” her son said, smiling. “She really wanted us to do that.”
With the displayed books as the backdrop, Michael McDonald leaned forward on the library couch, pinched the bridge of his nose and allowed the tears forming in his eyes to retreat as he appeared to be lost in valued memories of his mother.
“She cared so deeply for others, it is really hard to put into words. And this, this tribute. It is so special and so appreciated. My mother would have been honored. I know I am, the whole family is.”
