Madeline Bonneau Brown McElveen

Madeline Bonneau Brown McElveen

Greensboro

Madeline Bonneau Brown McElveen, 92, of Greensboro, North Carolina and Litchfield, South Carolina, went to her heavenly home peacefully on January 1, 2015----- in Greensboro, NC surrounded by love and care.

Madeline was a trailblazer, brilliant lifelong educator and force of nature, with a genuine dedication to the least, the last and the lost.  

A daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a God-made teacher, a mentor and a friend…she was the mirror that taught us to look for the good in others, to see God's hand in everything.

She gave herself to her faith, family, and to every child she met. 

She was a real and rare treasure, a genuine selfless spirit with courage, tenacity and the power to share transformational expectations. 

She was competitive, compassionate, curious and fun.  

She was an unofficial member of the Young Men's Bible Class at First Presbyterian Church.  She preferred the company of men and children, but her heroes were women.

She taught us to pray and believed there was no prayer too large or insignificant…she even prayed for parking spaces.

One of eight children, Madeline was born May 3, 1922 in Kingstree, SC, the daughter of the late Willie Edwin Brown and the late Mary Maybell McCutchen.

She credited her parents for instilling in her a deep thirst for knowledge, a devout faith in God and a belief in the responsibility of families to nurture children.   As a lifelong educator, she inspired love of learning, and fostered in all her students qualities of confidence, independence and intelligence.

Madeline graduated from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in English, the first in her family to earn a college degree.  She earned her Masters of Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska, received a Certificate in Graduate Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and holds a Lifetime Certificate in Education.   During her career, she taught in eight states and in Germany for over forty years. 

She initiated the Adopt-a-School program for the State of North Carolina, and by applying her characteristic creativity, energy and commitment to this partnership between public schools and the private sector, she was successful in expanding the program nationwide.

In addition to her parents and six siblings, she was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Lieutenant Colonel John Thomas McElveen, a former Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who flew 51 fighter missions in the European Theater and reconnaissance over Eastern Europe during the Korean War, and was recruited into the top secret U-2 program with the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, one of the most-decorated peacetime units in American military history.

She is survived by her three loving children, daughter, Bonnie McElveen-Hunter and husband Bynum Merritt Hunter of Greensboro, NC; son Dr. John Thomas McElveen Jr. and wife Christa McElveen of Raleigh, NC; and daughter, Tweed McElveen-Bogache and husband Dr. Bill Bogache of Myrtle Beach, SC; and four grandchildren who lovingly called her "Grand", Bynum Merritt Hunter Jr. of New York, NY;  Tweed Pendleton Bogache of Myrtle Beach, SC; and twins Madeline Bonneau McElveen and John Thomas Redden McElveen of Raleigh, NC; and her brother, Mauldin Brown of Kingstree, SC.

Madeline set an extraordinary example for all to follow, with a legacy of unyielding faith, eternal optimism and a passion for education, which will continue as genuine testimony to all.  She leaves this world…but not our hearts…with unimpeachable integrity, unwavering loyalty and unquestionable love.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00pm on Thursday, January 8th at First Presbyterian Church, 617 North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27403, with Dr. Sid Batts and Dr. Thomas K. Tewell officiating. 

Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery alongside her husband Lt. Col. John Thomas McElveen in Washington, DC

Following the service, the family will receive friends at the Greensboro Country Club from 4pm to 6pm.

The family requests no flowers…as Madeline said, "Give my bouquets while I'm living." Memorial contributions may be made to the Horatio Alger Association Scholars Program. The Horatio Alger Association provides scholarship assistance to deserving young people who have demonstrated integrity, determination in overcoming adversity, academic potential and the personal aspiration to make a unique contribution to society. Checks for Horatio Alger should be made out to The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and sent to 330. S. Greene St., Greensboro, NC 27401 - or donate online at http://cfgg.org/.

Online condolences may be made through www.hanes lineberryfuneralhomes.com