Norena Porter

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Norena Porter on May 24, 2026.

Norena was born in Elyria, Ohio, to Christine Nixon and Clarence Walker on March 1, 1932. She was raised from birth to adulthood by a relative, Mrs. Mattie Malloy, known to her family as Nannie Ma. She and Nannie Ma were among the charter members of the new Second Baptist Church. As a young girl, she would play church at home after Sunday service. She enjoyed listening to music and developed a love for the piano. She was given an old brown upright piano and received piano lessons from Mrs. Hamblem and Mrs. Bates. Later, she would travel to Cleveland on Saturday mornings to take lessons from Professor White at the Standard School of Music.

On May 26, 1951, she married Ira Cooper. Out of this marriage, six children were born: Sheila (Cooper) Wilcox, Ira, Janis, David, Jonathan, and Robert Cooper.

She had a lengthy and illustrious career as a pianist for Second Baptist Church that spanned over 60 years under the pastoralship of Rev RJ Gordon, Rev. Henry Johnson, and the current Pastor Carl Small. She was the pianist for various choirs in the church, from the Children's Choir to the Senior Choir, and was a visiting pianist for area churches across the county. She was a lifelong member of Second Baptist Church.

After 30 years of dedicated service, she retired from Ohio Edison. She broke barriers by becoming the first African American office worker at Ohio Edison.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ira James Cooper; Mattie Malloy, her mom; her biological parents, Christine and Clarence Walker; her sister, Cordella Walker; her brother, James Walker; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Lucy and Luther Valentine, Dovie and Carl Simmons, and Ruth and Homer Cooper; relative Kenneth Mitchell; her deceased former husbands, James Robinson and Willie Porter.

She leaves to celebrate her life and carry on her remarkable legacy: Shelia (Gary) Wilcox, Ira James Cooper, Janis Cooper, David (Crystal) Cooper, Jonathan Cooper and Robert (Anjanette) Cooper, and other son Reggie Langhorne; her grandchildren Robert Brian (Elda) Wilcox, Deniece Wilcox, Stefon (Tina) Cooper-Langhorne, Shauna (Jarett), Shanel (John) and Lauren Sciabica; great-grandchildren: Keagan, Robert, Jaime, Ollie, Madison, Skylar, Jarett Jr., Faith, Haven, Zion, Judah, A’meya, Savannah, and Aiden; nieces and nephews: Landry (Dianne), Phyllis (Daryl), Belvia, Donald, Diane, and Lisa, along with extended family members and friends who will forever treasure her memory.

Visitation will be on Monday, Jun 1, 2026, from 10am until time of service at 11am at Second Baptist Church, 427 Chapman Lane, Elyria OH 44035. Burial will be in Brookdale Cemetery, Elyria.

Norena Porter will be remembered as a faith-filled, loving, and generous woman whose life reflected the beauty of service, devotion, and compassion.