Ms. Fayetta Renay Norwood died Jan. 4, 2014, losing her battle with heart failure and kidney failureat at LawrenceMemorialHospital. She was born Nov. 13, 1954, in Winfield, Kan., the only daughter of Lafayette and Betty Ann White Norwood.
She graduated from WichitaHeightsHigh School in 1972, and went on to take some classes studying dentistry. In March 1976, she gave birth to her first child, Alexius S. Norwood (Lex). Two years after the birth of her second child, Akeshia R. Norwood (Kesh) in 1980, she moved to Topeka upon receiving a pianist position at First Church of God In Christ with fellow family friend and pianist Vickie Divers. As a local church pianist in Topeka, she began doing guest appearances for different churches around town and in 1984 became the musical director at Abundance of Life Church of God in Christ, in which she remained until 1985. In 1985, she and her children moved to Lawrence to be closer to family, and became the musical director for Overcoming Church of God in Christ, and was there from 1988-1994. From 1994 to present, she went on to hold several musical positions for the City of Lawrence, from playing piano for the Lawrence chapter of Women’s Aglow, to also playing for the “LINK” food outreach program, and aided her mother, Betty Ann Norwood, for several years. In 2004, she moved to Albany, New York, to join her son in writing and recording music, writing over 120 Gospel songs, essays, short stories, and poems over a period of 20 years, living in such places as Albany, Houston, and Nashville, where she did some original recordings of her musical works. While residing in Nashville, she became ill, and with a combination of loss of family members and illness, decided to move back to Lawrence with son Alexius (Lex) in 2012.
On Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, Fayetta lost her battle with heart failure and kidney failure.
She leaves to morn two children, Alexius S. Norwood and Akeshia R. Norwood, one brother, Cory Norwood, her father, Lafayette Norwood, and two nieces, Ashlynn and Janee’ Norwood, all of Lawrence, and a host of friends and relatives.
She joins in glory brother Seth E. Norwood and mother Betty Ann Norwood. Her legacy is and was to be a power woman of God first, a good mother, and a faithful servant using the gift God gave her providing her musical talents to the Church Of God In Christ for over 25 years…she will be missed. May she rest in peace.
Funeral services will be at 2 pm Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 1 pm until service time Friday. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Fayetta Norwood Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
Lafayette & Family,
We are sad to hear of your loss and please know that we hold you in prayer and sympathy.
God bless you.
Thank you, and may the Blessing of the Lord rest your soul in peace.
I have had the honor and privledge of being a close friend of Faye for several years now. She was such a kind, caring and loving person who was always praying for the needs of others. She loved the Lord and had a great boldness to tell others about His wonderful gift of salvation for them. She was such a wonderful and talented musician and songwriter. I always told her that the song she wrote called “HEAVEN IS A PREPARED PLACE FOR A PREPARED PEOPLE” was going to be a classic. I will miss you greatly, Faye. I’m so glad you are at that prepared place now that you always sang about with your Lord. My husband and I send our deepest condolences to the Norwood family.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Faye for the past 11 years. Faye was a blessing to me and Iwill treasure our friendship forever. Faye’s music was inspiring to me. Faye’s love of her Lord Jesus was inspiring. I can’t count all the times that I was blessed by Faye and her kind, warm, unconditionally loving heart. I am better for having known Faye and will miss her greatly.
Steve Avery
Steve Ave
Life is legacy. My life was instantly and permanently enriched blessed through Faye’s son and legacy, Lex. Although the years have stretched our ties and time together, Lex is a treasured part of who I am, which means Faye is a part of me as well. Truth, trust, patience, kindness, and the constant realization of G-d through music are what Lex showed me. Lex perpetually gives all of this freely, and because of this Lex has changed my life forever. I knew Faye through what she gave to the world through Lex, and I am humbled for the perpetual lessons I learned. That is true legacy, true wealth, true success. I’m thankful to know all of that through her legacies and time on earth.
Thank Faye for all you did for people you will be miss..The Bell’s
Fay you will be missed by many but I know the angels are rejoicing at your homecoming. We will all celebrate when we are together again.
Thank you for all the love you shared with my family and support you gave Jason over the years. You were an awesome Mother and friend.
REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND