Madalyn Maxwell

Madalyn Maxwell

Springfield-Madalyn Maxwell died Saturday, November 6, 2010 at St. John's Hospital, Springfield after a brief illness. Ms. Maxwell was born in Nashville, Illinois on January 9, 1926, the daughter of (Illinois Supreme Court Justice) Ralph L. Maxwell and Beulah House Maxwell. She attended schools in Urbana and Nashville, Whitworth College in Brookhaven, Mississippi, and received her law degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana. She married Thomas H. McGary in Springfield on July 4, 1968. He preceded her in death in 1999.

She worked for a time with the American Red Cross in Hot Springs, Arkansas and was Assistant to the Treasurer at Sangamo Electric in Springfield for a year. She served for 47 years as an Assistant Attorney General, Chief of the Public Aid Bureau during the tenure of 9 Attorneys General. Madalyn Maxwell served as a relentless advocate for the rights of women and children during her long tenure in the Attorney General's Office. She retired in January of 2001.

She was a member of the Government Bar Association, the Illinois and Sangamon County Bar Associations, the Central Illinois Women's Bar Association (past president), the American Bar Association, and the American Public Welfare Association. Her community involvement included Sojourn Women's Center (past president), Springfield Women's Political Caucus (past vice president), League of Women Voters (past vice president), Springfield and Illinois Symphony Boards, Evening Symphony Guild (past president), National and Illinois Women's Political Caucus, and N.O.W. Until her recent illness, she was a volunteer at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

She received the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Award from the Springfield Women's Political Caucus in 1988, and was the Capitol City Chapter ABWA's "Boss of the Year" in 1974. In 1985, she was chosen by the People to People Program to participate in a trip with other women lawyers and judges to China to meet with their counterparts there. In 2002, Attorney General Lisa Madigan dedicated the Attorney General Public Aid Bureau Office in Springfield to Madalyn in recognition of her 47 years of service. In 2003, Maxwell was named a "Laureate" of the Illinois State Bar Association. She was a member of the American Bar Association International Child Support, Custody, and Visitation Committee for 19 years, traveling to Europe 7 times to negotiate with foreign governments on custody and support issues. Her dedication to these legal issues improved the lives of countless women and children around the world.

She was a member of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul for more than 40 years, where she served as a member of the Altar Guild and as an elected member of the Chapter. In addition, she was involved in numerous Cathedral food ministries, most recently the "Feed the Children" program at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Springfield.

She loved to travel, and did so extensively, visiting all of the continents except Antarctica. She continued to travel until her final illness. She was an avid reader.

She is survived by several cousins and many friends from the St. Paul Parish Family, the Springfield community, and throughout the country.

A funeral service will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 815 South Second Street, Springfield at 7:00 pm on Friday, November 26, with the Dean of the Cathedral, the Very Reverend Robert E. Brodie, officiating. She requested no flowers. Memorial contributions in Madalyn's name can be made to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.