Maxrea Tolen Jr.

Maxrea (Max) Tolen Jr. was born in Chicago, IL, December 16, 1954, to Mary P. Murphy-Tolen and Maxrea Tolen Sr. As a young teen, Max became a standout athlete running track and field for Thornton High School in Harvey, IL. To this day, Be-bad, as he was sometimes affectionately called, still holds indoor track records at his high school alma mater. Max also helped lead his high school boys’ mile relay team to an Illinois state championship in 1973. Upon his high school graduation, Max attended Texas Southern University in Houston, TX on a track scholarship under the guidance of the late Coach Dave Bethany. He became a prominent member of the Flying Tigers Men’s Track Team, winning many 1st place awards along the way at both the conference as well as national level and graduated with a B.A. in Telecommunications in May of 1980.

Max met Sandra F. Scott, a fellow Flying Tiger on the women’s track team, during his last semester at TSU in March 1980. They became parents to Tamra Nicole Tolen in December of 1984 and would later marry on February 14, 1992, the date Max selected. Max would tell anyone who would listen that his daughter, Tamra, was his greatest achievement. Anyone who knew Max know who Tamra is without ever having met her as well as know how genuinely proud he was of her, including of her achievements academically and as an adult.

After graduating Max worked several years for the City of Houston in the Water Customer Service Department before beginning his professional career at Sugar Land Telephone Company. Max retired from Windstream Communications (previously Sugar Land Telephone/Alltel) after working there for more than 30 years. During his retirement, he focused on his home, his dog and mostly the love of his life, his daughter, Dr. Tamra Nicole Tolen.

Max enjoyed his life and was never without a joke or two to tell whenever he had the opportunity. He enjoyed making people laugh and had a sense of humor like no other. Max loved to tell wild tales and could make anyone believe his stories, cracking up laughing when he realized that he had them on the hook. Max will be truly missed but will live on in each of our memories.

Maxrea Tolen Jr. is preceded in death by his mother, Mary P. Murphy-Tolen, his father, Maxrea Tolen Sr., a sister, Valery Price-Williamson, and a niece, Attorney Stephanie D. Butler. Max is survived by and leaves his only child, Dr. Tamra N. Tolen, as well as his ex-wife, Sandra F. Scott, to cherish his love and memories. Max also leaves to mourn his passing, sisters Donitha D. Butler (Vincent), Renee Tolen, LaJewell S. Thompson, and Sheryl E. Mayo; brother Keith D. Tolen, nieces Chisa M. Tolen, LaKeitha Smith, Shanice Tolen, Kristyna Tolen, Enyala Tolen, nephew Daniel Robinson, other nieces and nephews, cousins, uncles, and aunts as well as other loved ones, including Katherine Jackson (mother-in-law), sisters-in-law Trina Scott and Cherye Scott-Tucker in addition to his many friends.