Marjorie Tucker Caldwell

The Lord in his infinite wisdom called Marjorie Tucker Branch Caldwell to eternal rest and peace on Monday February 5th, 2024, at Vitality Living Retire home, Richmond VA. She was a native of Dinwiddie County, born on September 7th, 1919, in Carson VA to the late Benjamin Tucker and Ella Harvell Tucker Graves. In the year of 1919, it was time of segregation, the US government sued the Commonwealth of Virginia to allow African American children to legally attend the Virginia school system. Margie attended school up to Dinwiddie Normal Industrial School, which is known as Southside High School and the first African American high school in Dinwiddie County.

Marjorie “Margie” Caldwell lived to be 104 years old. She was recognized as the City of Richmond, VA Centenarian in 2021 for her longevity of life.  In 2023 she was part of the Albert Einstein College/Boston University program for Centenarian Research. As a young toddler, Marjorie was very ill, and the doctors told the family that she was not expected to live past 7 years old. If it wasn’t for her grandma and some Indian medicine (nature herbs), Marjorie would not have blessed us for 104 years. Marjorie went on to marry her first husband, Benjamin Branch and gave birth to Ella Louise Branch and Dorothy Branch. Shortly after, in 1938 Marjorie moved to New York and remarried to James Caldwell and gave birth to Rosalyn Faye Caldwell. Marjorie resided in New York for over 60 years. She had various jobs but most notably she worked at a manufacturing plant for 20 years and was an elder caretaker for several years.

Marjorie accepted Christ as her savior at an early age and baptized at Little Zion Church, which her Grandfather George Harvell and Uncle Edgar Harvell co-founded and donated the land. In 2006, Marjorie returned to Virginia from New York and re-joined Little Zion church.

Marjorie loved fashion and enjoyed getting dressed up and wearing pretty jewelry and hats. Marjorie also enjoyed having friends and family gatherings with good food and laughter.  The secret to her long life was her love of sweets but she never over did it. We all can remember her saying, “have a little sweet, for the sweet” or “dinner’s not complete, you need a little sweet for the sweet”. Then she would do her distinct laugh. She loved traveling and had visited Trinidad, Barbados, Jamaica, London, and Greece.

Marjorie Caldwell was preceded in death by her husband James Mintz Caldwell of Orangeburg, SC and daughter Dorothy Branch Mattocks Robinson. 

Marjorie Caldwell leaves to cherish her memory; her loving daughter and son-in-law Ella Branch and Walter Embry of Carson, VA; loving youngest daughter Rosalyn Caldwell Ollivierra of Great Barrington, MA; her grandchildren Sharon Embry Golden of Manassas, VA, Wanda Embry Coleman (Reginald) of Fairfax, VA, Kelly Mattocks Parker (Stefan) of Charleston, SC, Alvin Mattocks of Brooklyn, NY, Tracy Mattocks Frie (Hillard) of Hobbs, NM, LaShawn Embry of Carson, VA, Jamarlon Ollivierra of Great Barrington, MA; her great-grandchildren; Alvin Mattocks Jr (Heidi) of Hobbs, NM, Clifford Parker of Charleston, SC, James Parker of Charleston SC, Anthony Golden of Fairfax, VA, Niah Bonomini (Vincent) of Frankfort, KY, Rachel Coleman of San Diego, CA; Jonathan Frie of Hobbs, NM, Isaiah Embry-Zeigler and Jordan Embry-Zeigler of Carson, VA; her great- great- grandsons; Alvin Kasseem Mattocks, Quentin Mattocks and Dominic Mattocks of Hobbs, NM. She had a devoted niece that took special care of Marjorie in her last days, Wendy Mason Riddick. Marjorie Caldwell better known to most as “Aunt Margie” also left behind scores of nieces and nephews from Virginia, Maryland, Detroit, Indiana, and New York that loved and cherished her.

Funeral Services will be held 12 Noon Wednesday February 14, 2024 at the Little Zion Baptist Church, Carson, VA with burial to follow at the Harvell Family Cemetery, Shady Lane, Carson, VA. Public viewing will be held on Tuesday 4-7 pm at the Petersburg Chapel - Joseph M. Johnson & Son Funeral Home. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to  the professional staff- Petersburg Chapel- Joseph M. Johnson & Son Funeral Home, 530 S. Sycamore St., Petersburg, VA 23803 (804) 863-4411  www.johnsonservices.us.