Dr. Norma Jean Gillming

Norma Gillming, born to a humble life on a farm in rural Nebraska but with the touch of God, became a person of renown. In days 417-4967581 when very few women went to college, Norma graduated from Kearney State with an undergraduate degree and then with two Master's degrees from Missouri State University. She taught for over 25 years at Baptist Bible College, Springfield, Missouri, with multitudes of students that loved and appreciated her investment in their lives. She authored two books.

Norma was far more than just a professional educator; she was a Pastor's wife. She led the women's ministries at Cherry Street Baptist Church for over 50 years establishing ministries like LIFT (Ladies Inspirational Fellowship Time) that grew to over 1,000 in its 25 year history. She taught with passion, creativity, distinction and honor from Primary children to Single Adult women classes. She was much in demand as a speaker at national ladies' conferences. She served in leadership and lived a model life for all women she impacted.

       Norma was far more than a Pastor's wife; she was a dedicated wife to Kenneth E. Gillming for over 65 years. Her husband would often say that he would have accomplished very little without her at his side. For all their lives they served the Lord in full-time ministry; they served as a team. All four of her children who survive her, Virginia Lingo (Steven) of Parkland, FL, Ken Gillming (Shirley) of Boston, MA, Keith Gillming (Becky) of St. Louis, MO, and Mark Gillming (Rene) of Gastonia, NC, all have served in full-time Christian ministry. She has eleven grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth E. Gillming, parents Robert T. and Hattie Lewis, Brother Dale Lewis and Grandson Mark Lewis Gillming.

       Norma was more than a dedicated wife and mother. She was a person who had a dynamic living relationship with Jesus Christ. At ten years of age she trusted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and never looked back. She lived through cancer, the death of a grandson, the trials of leading ministries and counseling those in difficult situations only because she had a vibrant walk with a living Lord. She authored several songs including "Walk Right Out of This World." It is a song about how Enoch walked with the LORD for so long that one day he just was closer to Heaven than he was to his earthly home "so he just walked right out of this world to a better day."

       Norma was born humbly and accomplished so much because she was a true follower of Jesus. If you should see her today you would recognize that she is more than she has ever been because she is with Jesus.

We will memorialize her life on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at Cherry Street Baptist Church, 1201 S. Oak Grove, Springfield MO.