Mary Elizabeth Madison

The Obituary

Mary Elizabeth Madison was born on October 17, 1940, in Long Branch, New Jersey, and departed this life on April 18, 2025, at her daughter Sheila’s home. Sheila sat lovingly beside her mother’s bed, holding her hand as she took her last breath.

Mary completed elementary school and middle school. During her middle school years, the need arose for her to take care of her siblings, and she left school to begin caring for them.

Mary confessed Christ as her Lord and Saviour at the age of 11. Her love for caring for people extended to her service as a Candy Striper at 16 and was readily displayed during her employment in a local hospital in Valdosta, GA.

Mary’s mother was a preacher in a storefront church, and that is where she met her first love, Nathaniel Smith, Sr. She married “Nate” at the age of 18 and from this union were born three children: Nathaniel Smith, Jr., Sheila, and Sherry.

After seven years, Mary relocated to Columbus, Ohio, with her three children, where she met Edward Hinckerson-Hines Madison, and they married and moved to the house EVERYONE knows as 1109 Duxbury Avenue. She became a housekeeper for prestigious families in Arlington, Ohio. She went on to further her education and received her GED and later graduated from Southern Ohio College with a Certified Nursing Assistant (“CNA”) degree. Mary works in multiple hospitals located in Columbus. She later became a private CNA for founder, George Beyers, Sr., and also for founder, John Gerlachk Sr., and another executive, whom she called “Joe Sugar.”

Mary retired and became a Foster Mother for many years, for over 55 children, and legally adopted Santanna Campbell and Makayla Coleman. The first church she became affiliated with in Columbus was BibleWay Church of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, pastored by Bishop William C. Latta. She served on the nurses’ board and rededicated her life to Christ.

Mary formed The “Agape Singers,” which included Mary, her mother, Sherry, and Sheila.

She is preceded in death by her father. James Lee Summers and mother Mary Elizabeth Summers; brothers James (Mary) Lee Summers jr, Carlton Vernon Bell Sr., Willie (Lavern)D Bell Sr, Willie Lee Bell, David Townsend; sister Oradean Cobbs; children Nathaniel (Sheryl) Wilford Smith Jr and Sheridan (Charles) Sharice Booker; great-grandchildren Angelique Cooper and Jeremy James Clinton. She is survived by sisters Dorothy Tyler and Carolyn Laverne Bell. DAUGHTER Sheila (Scott) Denise Henderson and Santanna Campbell-Madison. Her special grandchildren Joshua Thomas Herbert Smith, Taren Nadine Henderson, Charles (Stephanie) Willam Booker Jr, Chanay Natice Henderson, and 14 additional grandchildren; special great-grandchildren Jayceon Sylvester Lee Miller, T'Anthony Scott Aaron

Andrews, Kaei Cee Denise Kennady Drew, and 23 additional great-grandchildren; Only one great-grandson

We will dearly miss her.

" Absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."