Daytona Beach's Norma Bland, a community activist, has succumbed to the coronavirus at 71

Headline Surfer photo illustration / Cynthia Slater, longtime president of the Daytona Beach chapter of the NAACP, is shown with her friend, Norma Bland, who has died from COVID.

By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Mark E. Lewis, perhaps said it best Friday of the passing of Norma Bland at 71: "My family lost a member today, but this community lost much more."

Bland has succumbed to the coronavirus.

Cynthia Slater, the longtime president of the Daytona Beach Chapter of the NAACP, who said her heart was heavy, cited Matthew 25:21 in reflecting on Bland's passing: "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

Slater said Bland, a former mental health counselor at Bethune-Cookman University, "challenged every opportunity that would help her make a difference in this community."  

Among those who valued Bland's community spirit was Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, the former longtime Daytona Beach police chief for 11 years before running for the office of sheriff in 2016, which he won and was was re-elected to for another four years when qualifying ended in June and he had no opposition. 

Among those who valued Bland's community spirit was Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, the former Daytona Beach police chief for 11 years before running for the office of sheriff in 2016, which he won and was re-elected to for another four years when qualifying ended in June and he had no opposition.

Here is what Chitwood said of Bland in part on his Facebook page, whom he described as a "community champion" and "a great friend."

"Norma was one of the first people I met when I came to Daytona Beach. She was from Philly, and her husband had been a detective who worked with my father at Philadelphia PD. Norma let me know right away what she expected from the new police chief in her city. 

"She asked for accountability and fairness, and I promised her exactly that. I worked every day to keep my word, knowing that Norma would always follow through and hold me to it.

"Early on, Norma rode along on two drug operations we ran in two different communities in Daytona Beach. She didn't just stand on the sidelines. She wanted to see how we treated people in different neighborhoods. It was important to her to see for herself that we treated people the same, regardless of their skin color or their station in life.

"I always knew Norma would be there to stand up for someone who was wronged. And I always knew she would be there to stand by us when we were right. I can't tell you how many times Norma helped get food, school supplies or Christmas gifts to a person or family in need. I'm sure the list is longer than I'll ever know.

"She was always fighting for what was right. Not because she stood to gain anything from it, but because she was a true community leader who took it upon herself to do her part for the common good. I am so proud to say she was my friend."