Elaine Norman Sturkey imagines her parents would’ve been quite proud to drive through Augusta and see an amphitheater, a street, an art school and now a major intersection named in honor of their daughter — opera legend Jessye Norman.
On Saturday, Sturkey, along with other family members, friends, elected officials and community members attended a ceremony to mark the naming of the interchange at I-20 and Washington Road in Norman’s honor. The event was held at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts.
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Sturkey encouraged those in the room to take the lead of her sister in using their talents and pursuing their dreams.
“Find your joy; find your passion; know your purpose,” she said. “Keep on working; keep on going strong.”
She pointed to the verse in Proverbs 18:16 that says “A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.”
Sturkey said whether the gift is being a singer or being the “best bff” there is, use that gift.
In addition to Sturkey, multiple speakers highlighted Norman’s life and legacy.
Tonya Currier, a former opera singer and retired member of the Augusta University Music Department faculty, recalled wanting to sing an obscure but beautiful song. She wanted to make sure her delivery was appropriate for the piece and searched for other singers’ interpretations of it.
She only found one, and it was performed by Norman. She said she was grateful Norman had recorded it. It showed how prolific she was in recording so many pieces, and Currier also believes that it’s only fitting that the one recording was by Norman because of her expertise.
Norman was born in Augusta in 1945 and graduated from Lucy C. Laney High School and Howard University. She studied at the Peabody Conservatory and received 30 honorary doctorates from colleges, universities and conservatories, according to the bio read by Currier.
She won five GRAMMY awards including a lifetime achievement award. She died in September 2019.
State Rep. Henry Wayne Howard (D-Augusta) said the motion to rename the interchange after Norman was unanimously approved.
Howard said Norman never forgot her hometown of Augusta and Mount Calvary Baptist Church, where she started singing, and considered it her “stronghold of where she came from.”
In addition to the speakers, there were several musical tributes during the ceremony.
Sol Tucker and Karina Bacon performed a dance to Norman’s rendition of “Stormy Weather.”
Trey McLaughlin and members of the Sounds of Zamar sang two songs, and Tony Hambrick, a member of the JNSA faculty and North Augusta Middle School teacher, performed Norman’s rendition of “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.”
Also, this weekend, JNSA will have its annual fundraiser. Because of COVID-19-related concerns, the Oct. 10 concert featuring Wycliffe Gordon and a jazz ensemble will be livestreamed. For tickets, visit the JNSA website, jessyenormanschool.org.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the features editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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