She turned to national educational consultants in order to design and implement courses and training seminars to facilitate team building, developing leadership skills, problem solving and communications skills.
Dr. Barbara Dezmon, assistant to the Baltimore County schools superintendent for equity and assurance, is also a former colleague and old friend.
"Norvice did a tremendous service for the county during a time of great transition. She was the key player. She brought positive human relations between teachers and students and established a climate of mutual respect," said Dr. Dezmon.
"She also had a high level of caring. She didn't care whether someone was the superintendent, a custodian or a bus driver, she treated them all equally. If they needed her, she made time for them. Any problem they had became her problem," she said.
Reflecting on Mrs. Penny's life, Dr. Dezmon said, "I think she's one of the great unsung heroes. Her life's mantra when it came to the school system was, 'If I don't do it, who will?' "
Dr. Elfreda W. Massie, a former deputy superintendent of Baltimore County public schools, worked with Mrs. Penny from 1976 to 1989.
"Norvice had such a deep love for education and children. She wanted families to know the value of education and she was always encouraging," said Dr. Massie, now senior vice president for Blackboard Connect Inc.
"Her great imperative was to be the best that you could be. If you had a bachelor's degree, she'd encourage you to get a master's. When you got your master's, she'd urge you to get your doctorate," she said.
"When she came to work in Baltimore County, we had a 3 percent minority student population, and when she retired in 1989, that number had grown to 30 percent, the greatest changes taking place in the Liberty Road-Northwest corridor," Dr. Massie said.
Mrs. Penny, who was remembered for her sense of humor and easygoing demeanor, was an active member of the Morgan State Alumni Class of 1957 and was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Mrs. Penny, who enjoyed collecting jewelry, also liked traveling and helping to plan and attend family reunions.
She was a longtime active member of Epworth United Methodist Church on Liberty Road, where services were held Friday.
Also surviving is a son, Aaron M. Jenkins of Lochearn; two other sisters, Edith Gibson of Mount Washington and Danese Moore of Columbia; and a grandson. Marriages to Dr. Aaron Jenkins and Lonnie Penny ended in divorce.
