Mary Louise Madden

On October 24th, 1941, a beautiful daughter was born to the union of Willie Johnson and Essie Felix Johnson. She was the 1st of three daughters her parents were blessed with and for 8 years she was the only child. On December 22, 1950, Essie Felix Johnson was called home leaving Mary to become mother to her young sisters, Willie Mae and Lucille. While there is a certain trauma of having your mother die when you are nine years old, Mary knew she was loved and embraced the role of being a mother figure to her younger sisters and cousins. She took her newfound responsibility in stride; never complaining or wavering in her duty, and always expressing love. When Mary was 15 her father married Anna Loyce Payne. And Mary and her sisters went to live with them. It was a happy home. Anna loved and nurtured Mary and her sisters as her own, which provided great stability for the girls. At the age of 21, Mary married Mr.Nolden Madden, on May 6, 1962. From that union one child was born, Carmen Loyce Madden. They made their home with Nolden’s brother, Tom Madden in Vallejo, CA. However, a year after Carmen was born, the couple was blessed to buy a house in Oakland, CA. Both Nolden and Mary worked hard to provide for their family. Nolden worked as a Sanitation Engineer for the City of Oakland, and then, later for the City of Berkeley while Mary began a career with the Berkeley Unified School District. Mary received her formal education in the Oakland Public School District, graduating from McClymond’s High School. She attended Providence Nursing School and received her LVN license. She worked at a couple of nursing homes and then started working at King Jr. High as a school nurse. Wishing to get away from working night shifts, Mary accepted a job at King Jr. High in the Berkeley Unified School District as a school nurse. After a few years, she changed careers and became Secretary to the Principal of Berkely High School. Mary had a wonderful time working with students there, but eventually moved on to the Human Resources Department helping many find employment until she retired in the early 2000’s. In addition to her career at Berkeley Unified School District, Mary was always active in the church. She had always traveled with her father, Reverend Willie Jackson, as he was over Local #3, the American Singers Association, but as her father stepped away from Local #3 to focus more on his ministry, Mary became active first at Allen Temple Baptist Church, and then, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where her father was a minister until he was called to Pastor at Olive Baptist Church. At Pleasant Grove, Mary served as teacher and Superintendent of Sunday School for several years. She ran Vacation Bible School. She was on and organized the Christian Board of Education. She formed the Super Sunday School designed to get people interested in coming to Sunday School, and under her guidance it flourished. Mary also served as the Women’s President of the Home of Foreign Mission District Association for 10 years, and later became a member of Queen Esther Chapter No. 4 Order of the Eastern Star Prince Hall Rite of Adoption State of California. There she served as Associate Matron, Worthy Matron, Chaplain, Secretary and Grand Orator for the Golden State Grand Chapter. Even as Mary became ill, she still enjoyed working for the lord and was over the Women’s Department at Pleasant Grove, soliciting speakers for the women’s program until she died. Mary was mostly referred to as Mother Mary or Auntie Mary because she counseled, encouraged, taught, and gave love to everyone she encountered. To say that she will be missed is an understatement on so many levels. Mary is preceded by death by her husband Nolden Madden and her sister Willie Mae Jiles. She leaves to love and cherish her memories: Daughter; Carmen Loyce Madden of Oakland California; two grandchildren, Savier Chance Madden of Oakland, California, and Santiago Blue Madden of Oakland, California; 1 devoted sister Lucille Wayne of BayPoint CA, two nieces, Shena Evette Jiles of Ohio. And Tamberlyn Latrice Crayton of BayPoint, CA; one nephew, Timothy Lawrence Hall of BayPoint, CA; and a host of cousins and friends.

Mary Louise Madden

October 24, 1941 - February 15, 2023

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Mary Louise Madden

October 24, 1941 - February 15, 2023

365 Days of Grief Support

What We Do

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Plan Ahead

Urn Store

Obituaries

Price Lists

Contact Information