William Norman was born on March 18, in Roper, North Carolina to Annie Mae Norman and Fredrick Downing. William departed this life on Thursday January 14, 2021 in his home in Greenwood, Delaware. William graduated from Plymouth High School in Plymouth, North Carolina, in 1971. After graduating, William relocated to Greenwood, Delaware. He was employed by Delaware/Penn Fiber in Greenwood, Delaware retiring after 40 years of service. William was preceded in death by his parents, Annie Mae Norman- Polk and Fredrick Downing; stepfather, George F. Polk, Sr.; maternal grandparents, Isaac Burnette and Lucile Norman; paternal grandparents, Milton Ed and Ella Jane Downing; aunt and uncle, Mildred and Robert Lee; grandson, Jermaine Griffin, Jr.; and sister, Carolyn Wilson of New York. William leaves to cherish his memories, one son, Shedrick “Ricky” Rayford Sr. Seaford, DE; three daughters, Keisha Watkins and Crystal Watkins Seaford, DE and Tish Weal-Posy (Sidney) Providence, Rhode Island; 11 grand children, Shedrick Rayford Jr., Tanye’ Hopkins, Blaize Rayford, Carleah Rayford, Amelia Knestaut, Kenya Watkins, Jevonte Watkins, Jermiesha Watkins, N’dea Rayford, Evan Posy and Ethan Posy; one great grandson, Tre’kell Hopkins; two sisters, Luceal Chesson (Elbert) Roper, North Carolina and Alice Norman Plymouth, North Carolina; four stepsisters, Deborah Polk-Peacock Richmond Hill, GA, Kimberly Polk-Johnson Lincoln, DE, Karen Polk-Gibbs Bridgeville, DE and Lisa Polk-Sylvain Felton, DE; one special nephew, Roy Chesson of Saginaw, Michigan; three special cousins, Bernard Hill of Greenville, North Carolina, Patricia Norman Stafford, VA and Evelyn Norman Hyattsville, MD, Deadra Bivens Townsend, DE, who was like a daughter to him; special friends: Sherwood Craig Davis, Bruce Hudson, Christine Spady, Grace Mills, Deborah Jackson, George Marshall and Preston Grace; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.