About The Author
About The Author
Christine Tolbert Norman
Christine Augusta Tolbert Norman
Sunrise: November 18, 1943 | Sunset: June 23, 2021
Christine Augusta Tolbert Norman lived a life that defied every attempt to diminish it. Born in Monrovia, Liberia, to Dr. William R. Tolbert, Jr. and Mrs. Victoria A. David Tolbert, she grew up in a household where public service was not a career — it was a calling. That calling became her own.
After completing her secondary education in Liberia, Christine earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Cuttington University College in 1966, then traveled to Evanston, Illinois, where she earned her master’s degree in Education and Vocational Counseling from Northwestern University in 1968. She was 26 years old when she returned home and co-founded the Isaac A. David Sr. Memorial School in Paynesville, Liberia — serving as its first Principal and setting the tone for everything that would follow.
In 1969, she founded the Liberian Educational Material and Supplies Company (LEMSCO) — the first Liberian-owned educational supply company — and married Laurence Cecil Norman, with whom she would share 51 years of life, love, and purpose.
Her ascent in public service was swift and earned. She served as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction within the Monrovia Consolidated School System and was appointed Deputy Minister of Education for Instruction in 1974 — a role she held until April 12, 1980, when a violent coup d’état ended her father’s presidency, took his life, and shattered the world she had known. Christine was imprisoned, placed under house arrest for nine months, and ultimately forced into exile.
She rebuilt — quietly, powerfully, and without bitterness.
Settling in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, she founded the International Friendship Center, a vibrant community hub offering vocational training, youth programming, and educational workshops. She taught and led at the International Community School of Abidjan for fifteen years. When the Liberian Civil War erupted in 1990 and sent hundreds of thousands of refugees flooding across the border, Christine opened her doors. She counseled her fellow Liberians, established the Liberian Refugee Tutorial Program — which continues to operate today — and organized peace and reconciliation conferences at a time when few dared to hope for peace.
In 1996, she pursued a second master’s degree in International Education from the College of New Jersey. And in 2002, she did what few in exile ever manage: she went home.
Returning to Liberia to assist with post-conflict reconstruction, Christine established REAP — the Restoration of Educational Advancement Programs — bringing hope and opportunity to youth, ex-combatants, widows, orphans, and other marginalized communities. She built the William R. Tolbert Jr. Youth Enlightenment and Empowerment Center in Bentol City, the REAP Vocational Training Center, the Victoria A. Tolbert Early Childhood Center, and Project Dignity. She partnered with the Pointman Leadership Institute to train thousands of civil servants and private sector professionals in character-based leadership and ethics.
In 2013, she was instrumental in founding the William R. Tolbert Jr. Foundation to honor her father’s enduring legacy. In 2014, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed her Mayor of Bentol City — her family’s historic home. In that role, she was selected to represent Liberia at the signing of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Quito, Ecuador, and established Sister City relationships with Attecoubé, Côte d’Ivoire, and Evanston, Illinois.
She was also a published author. In 2002, she published It Is Time for Change, a compilation of speeches by President William R. Tolbert Jr., later republished in 2014 with a foreword by former Nigerian President H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo. In November 2020, she published Clemency: Pardon. She completed her memoir in May 2021 — just weeks before her passing on June 23, 2021, in Cary, North Carolina, following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Christine Tolbert Norman is survived by her husband Laurence Cecil Norman, their three children — Dr. Carnley Laurence Norman, Mr. Baimba Cecil Norman, and Dr. Maavi Allen Norman — along with many beloved children of the heart, 16 grandchildren, siblings, and a vast extended family whose lives she shaped with intention and love.
She was affectionately known as Aunty Chris and CTN. She was, in every sense, an agent of creative and positive change.
About The Author
Christine Tolbert Norman
In 1969 she founded the Liberian Educational Material and Supplies Company (LEMSCO), a successful educational supply company and bookstore – the first Liberian- owned educational supply company. She married Laurence Norman on December 20th, 1969, and they were blessed with three consanguineal children and reared many other loving children.
In 1972, she accepted her Dad’s request to serve in his administration as the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS). Based on her exceptional work ethic, competence, and impact, she was appointed Deputy Minister of Education for Instruction in 1974. She held this position until April 12, 1980, when a bloody coup d’etat toppled the Liberian government and led to the death of her father and many other family members. She was imprisoned and then served under house arrest for 9 months.
Shortly after her release, Christine and her family relocated to Westchester County, New York and finally settled in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. While in Abidjan, she founded the International Friendship Center, a multifaceted community and recreational center that hosted educational workshops, vocational training, athletic activities, and entertainment for youth and adults in the community. She also served as an educator and held key leadership roles at the International Community School of Abidjan and International Fellowship of Christians for 15 years.
In 1996, she took a sabbatical from the International Community School of Abidjan to pursue a second Masters degree in International Education from the College of New Jersey. She chose to retire from ICSA in 2002 to return to Liberia to assist with post-conflict reconstruction. She organized numerous mission trips and eventually established Restoration of Educational Advancement Programs (REAP) with a mission to provide hope, opportunities, empowerment to youth, young adults, ex-combatants, widows, orphans, and other marginalized groups in Liberia. Christine partnered with numerous organizations such as God’s Kids, Pointman Leadership Institute, Service to Servants, Project Hannah Women of Hope, Save the World Foundation, International Friends, Lifeline Children Services, Freedom in Christ Ministries, Africa International House, ELWA, Dr. Franklin Graham and the Samaritan’s Purse organization.
In 2002, Christine published It Is Time for Change – a compilation of speeches made by her late father, President William R. Tolbert Jr. It was republished in 2014 with a forward by H.E Olesegun Obasanjo, former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Following her return to Liberia, Christine established the William R. Tolbert Jr. Youth Enlightenment and Empowerment Center in her hometown – Bentol City, as well as the REAP Vocational Training Center (accredited), Victoria A. Tolbert Early Childhood Center, and Project Dignity (sponsored by God’s Kids).
Christine also partnered with Pointman Leadership Institute to train thousands of civil servants and private sector professionals on character-based leadership and ethics in management. In 2013 and 2014, she was invited to be the keynote speaker for the Paradigms & Strategies of Leadership class at Northwestern University’s Center for Leadership.
Christine was instrumental in establishing the William R. Tolbert Jr. Foundation in 2013 to honor her late father’s legacy. In 2015, she was appointed Mayor of Bentol City by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. In the capacity, she was selected to represent Liberia in Quito, Ecuador at the signing of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. She also established Sister City Relationships with Attecoube, Cote d’Ivoire and Evanston, Illinois.
Christine published Clemency: Pardon in November 2020 and completed her forthcoming memoir in May 2021.
Christine Tolbert Norman leaves to mourn her husband of 51 years, Mr. Laurence Cecil Norman, their three consanguineal children Dr. Carnley Laurence Norman (Soenda), Mr. Baimba Cecil Norman (Vivian), and Dr. Maavi Allen Norman (Lisa), other children (Mr. James Armah (Joyce), Mr. Raphael Tolbert Bomosy (Esther), Mr. Samuel Horace (Anita), Mr. Ezekiel Tolbert Norman, Ms. Marbue Cornelia Norman, and Mrs. Rita Nwonye (Jerry),16 grandchildren, siblings, and many other extended family members.
She was predeceased by her father, President William R. Tolbert Jr., her mother, Mrs. Victoria Anna David-Tolbert, brother, Honorable Adolphus Benedict Tolbert, and sisters Mrs. Victoria Tolbert-Yancy and Mrs. Evelyn Tolbert-Richardson.
May her soul rest in eternal peace!