{"id":366,"date":"2026-01-22T22:53:36","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T22:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectdemo.pro\/christine\/?page_id=366"},"modified":"2026-04-24T00:41:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T00:41:34","slug":"about-the-author","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/projectdemo.pro\/christine\/about-the-author\/","title":{"rendered":"About The Author"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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About The Author<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Christine Tolbert Norman<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Christine Augusta Tolbert Norman<\/b><\/strong><\/p>

Sunrise: November 18, 1943 | Sunset: June 23, 2021<\/b><\/strong><\/p>

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 \u2014 it was a calling. That calling became her own.<\/p>

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 \u2014 serving as its first Principal and setting the tone for everything that would follow.<\/p>

In 1969, she founded the Liberian Educational Material and Supplies Company (LEMSCO) \u2014 the first Liberian-owned educational supply company \u2014 and married Laurence Cecil Norman, with whom she would share 51 years of life, love, and purpose.<\/p>

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 \u2014 a role she held until April 12, 1980, when a violent coup d’\u00e9tat 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.<\/p>

She rebuilt \u2014 quietly, powerfully, and without bitterness.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Settling in Abidjan, C\u00f4te 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 \u2014 which continues to operate today \u2014 and organized peace and reconciliation conferences at a time when few dared to hope for peace.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

Returning to Liberia to assist with post-conflict reconstruction, Christine established REAP \u2014 the Restoration of Educational Advancement Programs \u2014 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.<\/p>

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 \u2014 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 Attecoub\u00e9, C\u00f4te d’Ivoire, and Evanston, Illinois.<\/p>

She was also a published author. In 2002, she published It Is Time for Change<\/i><\/em>, 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<\/i><\/em>. She completed her memoir in May 2021 \u2014 just weeks before her passing on June 23, 2021, in Cary, North Carolina, following a prolonged battle with cancer.<\/p>

Christine Tolbert Norman is survived by her husband Laurence Cecil Norman, their three children \u2014 Dr. Carnley Laurence Norman, Mr. Baimba Cecil Norman, and Dr. Maavi Allen Norman \u2014 along with many beloved children of the heart, 16 grandchildren, siblings, and a vast extended family whose lives she shaped with intention and love.<\/p>

She was affectionately known as Aunty Chris<\/i><\/em>\u00a0and CTN<\/i><\/em>. She was, in every sense, an agent of creative and positive change.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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About The Author<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Christine Tolbert Norman<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUpon graduating from Northwestern University in 1968 (at the age of 26), she co-\nfounded the Isaac A. David Sr. Memorial School in Paynesville, Liberia, and served as\nits first Principal from 1968 to 1971. She also worked as a Vocational Guidance\nSpecialist at Newport Street Junior High School.

\nIn 1969 she founded the Liberian Educational Material and Supplies Company\n(LEMSCO), a successful educational supply company and bookstore – the first Liberian-\nowned educational supply company. She married Laurence Norman on December 20th,\n1969, and they were blessed with three consanguineal children and reared many other\nloving children.

\nIn 1972, she accepted her Dad\u2019s request to serve in his administration as the\nAssistant Superintendent for Instruction for the Monrovia Consolidated School System\n(MCSS). Based on her exceptional work ethic, competence, and impact, she was\nappointed Deputy Minister of Education for Instruction in 1974. She held this position\nuntil April 12, 1980, when a bloody coup d\u2019etat toppled the Liberian government and led\nto the death of her father and many other family members. She was imprisoned and\nthen served under house arrest for 9 months.

\nShortly after her release, Christine and her family relocated to Westchester\nCounty, New York and finally settled in Abidjan, Cote d\u2019Ivoire. While in Abidjan, she\nfounded the International Friendship Center, a multifaceted community and recreational\ncenter that hosted educational workshops, vocational training, athletic activities, and\nentertainment for youth and adults in the community. She also served as an educator\nand held key leadership roles at the International Community School of Abidjan and\nInternational Fellowship of Christians for 15 years.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhen the Liberian Civil War erupted in 1990 and forced hundreds of thousands\nof Liberian refugees to flee to neighboring Cote d\u2019Ivoire, she hosted, supported, and\ncounseled hundreds of her fellow Liberians. She established the Liberian Refugee\nTutorial Program (which is still in existence today), and convened and participated in\nnumerous peace and reconciliation conferences. In 1995, she organized a National\nPrayer Breakfast in Monrovia.

\nIn 1996, she took a sabbatical from the International Community School of\nAbidjan to pursue a second Masters degree in International Education from the College\nof New Jersey. She chose to retire from ICSA in 2002 to return to Liberia to assist with\npost-conflict reconstruction. She organized numerous mission trips and eventually\nestablished Restoration of Educational Advancement Programs (REAP) with a mission\nto provide hope, opportunities, empowerment to youth, young adults, ex-combatants,\nwidows, orphans, and other marginalized groups in Liberia. Christine partnered with\nnumerous organizations such as God\u2019s Kids, Pointman Leadership Institute, Service to\nServants, Project Hannah Women of Hope, Save the World Foundation, International\nFriends, Lifeline Children Services, Freedom in Christ Ministries, Africa International\nHouse, ELWA, Dr. Franklin Graham and the Samaritan\u2019s Purse organization.

\nIn 2002, Christine published It Is Time for Change – a compilation of speeches\nmade by her late father, President William R. Tolbert Jr. It was republished in 2014 with\na forward by H.E Olesegun Obasanjo, former president of the Federal Republic of\nNigeria. Following her return to Liberia, Christine established the William R. Tolbert Jr.\nYouth Enlightenment and Empowerment Center in her hometown – Bentol City, as well\nas the REAP Vocational Training Center (accredited), Victoria A. Tolbert Early\nChildhood Center, and Project Dignity (sponsored by God\u2019s Kids).

\nChristine also partnered with Pointman Leadership Institute to train thousands of\ncivil servants and private sector professionals on character-based leadership and ethics\nin management. In 2013 and 2014, she was invited to be the keynote speaker for the\nParadigms & Strategies of Leadership class at Northwestern University\u2019s Center for\nLeadership.

\nChristine was instrumental in establishing the William R. Tolbert Jr. Foundation in\n2013 to honor her late father\u2019s legacy. In 2015, she was appointed Mayor of Bentol City\nby President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. In the capacity, she was selected to represent\nLiberia in Quito, Ecuador at the signing of the United Nations Sustainable Development\nGoals. She also established Sister City Relationships with Attecoube, Cote d\u2019Ivoire and\nEvanston, Illinois.

\nChristine published Clemency: Pardon in November 2020 and completed her\nforthcoming memoir in May 2021.

\nChristine Tolbert Norman leaves to mourn her husband of 51 years, Mr.\nLaurence Cecil Norman, their three consanguineal children Dr. Carnley Laurence\nNorman (Soenda), Mr. Baimba Cecil Norman (Vivian), and Dr. Maavi Allen Norman\n(Lisa), other children (Mr. James Armah (Joyce), Mr. Raphael Tolbert Bomosy (Esther),\nMr. Samuel Horace (Anita), Mr. Ezekiel Tolbert Norman, Ms. Marbue Cornelia Norman,\nand Mrs. Rita Nwonye (Jerry),16 grandchildren, siblings, and many other extended\nfamily members.

\nShe was predeceased by her father, President William R. Tolbert Jr., her mother,\nMrs. Victoria Anna David-Tolbert, brother, Honorable Adolphus Benedict Tolbert, and\nsisters Mrs. Victoria Tolbert-Yancy and Mrs. Evelyn Tolbert-Richardson.

\nMay her soul rest in eternal peace!\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-366","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry","owp-thumbs-layout-horizontal","owp-btn-normal","owp-tabs-layout-horizontal","has-no-thumbnails","has-product-nav"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectdemo.pro\/christine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectdemo.pro\/christine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectdemo.pro\/christine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectdemo.pro\/christine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectdemo.pro\/christine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=366"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/projectdemo.pro\/christine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":733,"href":"https:\/\/projectdemo.pro\/christine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366\/revisions\/733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectdemo.pro\/christine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}