Norman Syllvanus Gaskins Jr

Norman’s Homegoing Service
June 13th, 2020

Virtual Viewing/slide show-10am- EST.
Virtual Memorial service 11am EST.

Service will be held Via Zoom. Zoom link will be posted on Norman’s FB page and/or sent by phone and email at your request.

Brittani Roberson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Norman Home Going Service
Time: Jun 13, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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Brittani Roberson MSW, LSW

Norman Syllvanus Gaskins, Jr. was born a military brat on May 20, 1962 to Norman Syllvanus
(deceased) and Mary Agnes at Langley A.F.B. in Hampton, VA. That bouncing boy started
walking with God at the young age of five. He attended Mildred Green Elementary in S.E. DC
and one morning as he ran to school and heard the last bell ring and saw the big metal door close,
he was devastated. He recounted looking around and saying, “It’s nobody out here but you and
me Lord, please give me the strength”; and he and Jesus opened that metal door and walked in.
Norman said that is when he began his walk with the Lord. Norman was promoted and
transitioned to walk with the Lord eternally on May 29, 2020.

During his early years of six to eight the family was stationed and lived on McGuire A.F.B.
where he started his football career as a running back for life. He continued his position as a
running back for Little League Bobcats in Frankfurt Germany and then in Junior High for the
Vikings. The family’s last military assignment was the Pentagon and living back in S.E. DC,
Norman was the running back for Assumption Catholic Blue Knights for three years. The
following two years he played for the Ballou Knights where he ran back a touchdown for 98
yards against Gwen Park High School. He wrapped up is illustrious football career in College
for the University of the District of Columbia’s Firebirds. His football nickname to date is
“Stormin Norman”.
Norman served his country in the United States Air Force for 8 years. He completed tech school
in Denver Colorado, where his love for his career as a metrologist/calibration tech would
blossom. Through a heart attack and stroke his love for his career still prevailed. He held
numerous positions in his field with his final assignment being at Custom Cal. We can say that
Norman took his last breath doing what he loved.

Singing was also one of Stormin Norman’s talents. As a middle schooler in Germany he was
lead singer for the COGIC Youth Choir and recorded an album with his Mother and the
Webberettes (named after the group’s co-founder). He continued to do solos when the family
moved back to D.C. with the Harvey Memorial Baptist Church Youth Choir, co-directed by the
renowned Grammy winner Steven Lawrence. At his Ballou High School graduation, held at the
Kennedy Center, Norman Jr. was the co-lead for the class song, “Give It Time.” The lyrics that
stand out are, “...Give it time, give it all you got, though you may not have a lot just give it time.”
What a fitting sentiment for Norman’s, Buck’s, Boo-baa’s, Stormin Norman’s and the Redskins
number one fan’s homegoing celebration. Buck also liked to throw down in the kitchen. As
much as he loved to cook delicious dishes he loved even more to serve them to his family and
friends. Norman was also known for his corny dad jokes. As his daughter was personalizing his
urn, she was sure to take over the corny joke torch by letting her father know we would be
celebrating his life because he “urned” it. We thank the Lord for the time you gave your son,
Norman Syllvanus Gaskins Jr. to us. He was preceded in death by his earthly Father, Norman S.

Gaskins, Sr., his eldest sister, Wanda Denise Gaskins and his youngest sister, Samantha Denise
Gaskins.

Norman is survived by his “greatest accomplishment” his daughter, Brittani Nichole (Jammel
Kilaum) Roberson; his grandsons, Jammel Kilaum Jr., Chance Kilaum and Justice Kilaum
Roberson; his granddaughters, A’laya Nichole and Journey Nichole Roberson; his Mother, Mary
Agnes Gaskins; his sister Dr. Michelle L. Gaskins Craig; his brother, Kevin Gaskins; his
nephews, Kevin Gaskins Jackson, Kendall Keith and Demetrius Keith Craig; and his niece,
DeLacey Michelle Craig, as well as a countless host of family, friends and co-workers.