Norma Hunton

Norma Hunton, 88, peacefully earned her wings at her home in Northwest Washington, D.C. on August 4, 2022, with her son, Raymond, by her side.

She was born on September 8, 1933, in Philadelphia, PA to Alda Sorgini and William C. Morton.  They moved to Washington, D.C. in her early childhood, where Norma would build her legacy as a highly respected educator, local musician, pillar in her community, and inspiration to her family.

After graduating from Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in 1951, Norma wed Raymond Hunton Sr. and became mother to Karen and Raymond Jr.. Once her children were older, Norma earned her Bachelor's of Music Education from Howard University in 1957. While there, Norma was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. Afterwards, she began her career as an elementary vocal, instrumental, and general music teacher in a circuit of 17 D.C. Public Schools. She also taught music at Theodore Roosevelt H.S, Benjamin Banneker JHS, Bruce Monroe, Park View, and Eugene Clark. In addition to impactful work in many classrooms across the city, Norma also co-wrote and published k-12 music curriculum for DCPS in 1973, which guided all DCPS music teachers for years to come. While employed by DCPS, Norma earned her Master’s of Music Education from Howard University in 1978. Norma also served as an associate professor of music at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) from 1983-1988. She retired in 1988 after also serving on the Board of Education for DCPS. She frequently and joyfully shared stories of former students and maintained relationships with many former students and their families. She also celebrated several students who became professional musicians.

Norma spent summers with her children, and eventually, grandchildren, in historic Highland Beach on the quiet shores of Annapolis, MD. There she made life-long friends as she walked her dogs and made her social rounds around the tightly-knit beach community. Once retired, she spent months out of the year there. Norma could always be counted on for a gathering, a smile, a wave, and a conversation with friends while on a walk or relaxing on her front porch.

During retirement, Norma also remained actively involved in the music community, serving as a string specialist in the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program, a member of the UDC String Quartet in Residence program. She also performed with the D.C. Arts Ensemble, as well as the D.C. Arts String Trio and the Potomac Players (National Symphony Orchestra In-School Ensemble). Beyond music, she enjoyed time tending her beautiful garden, swimming, reading, spending time with family and friends, and closely following local, national, and international politics.  She was a strong advocate, at both the chapter and state levels, for the inclusion of music in all meetings of The Delta Gamma Society International.

Norma was actively involved in work that supported the Black community, namely the NAACP, ACT/SO, Afro-Academic, and the Cultural Technological & Scientific Olympics – a year-long competitive achievement program that intentionally centers Black high school students. She was awarded the AARP Community Service award in 2004 and the AARP Outstanding Service Award in 2000.

Norma is survived by her loving son, Raymond Hunton; daughter-in-law, Beverly Hunton; grandchildren, Rayley Hunton, Kendra McMillan and Staria Alexander; great-grandsons, Cameron McMillan, Lucas McMillan and Miles Alexander; and nephew, Benjamin Hunton. We offer a special thanks to Josette Cole, who was like a daughter, Sam Dzirasa, Clayton and Everett Knox, the Lacy and Cooper families and a host of precious neighbors, Delta Kappa Gamma sisters and friends in Washington D.C. and Highland Beach, MD. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Hunton Sr. and daughter, Karen A. Hunton. 

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