Mary E. Madden

School Teacher

WINTER HAVEN - Mary Ella Madden, 91, of Winter Haven, Fl died on June 23, 2011 of natural causes.

She was born January 4, 1920 in Anderson, South Carolina to Van Buren and Bertha Madden. At the age of two her family moved to Eagle Lake, Florida where the family settled for their father to manage grove property.

Mary attended Eagle Lake Elementary and Winter Haven high School. She graduated from Florida Southern College with a degree in Elementary Education.

Mary went back to Eagle Lake Elementary School where she taught for 45 years encouraging and supporting many children in her community. Having never married, her family was of great importance in her life where she was a second-mother to 20 nieces and nephews and their children.

Mary was a member of First Baptist Church, Eagle Lake, Eagle Lake Garden Club and several educational organizations.

She was known for her beautiful red hair.

Mary is the last of her generation in her family and was preceded in death by brother Van Madden, sisters Doris Davis, Francis Mahaffey, Jean Bringger, Margaret Tankersley.

We will celebrate her life on July 2, 2011 at First Baptist Church, Eagle Lake, 10:00am. Visitation will be Friday evening at 6:00pm, Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Eagle Lake Baptist Church.

Condolences may be left at

www.ott-laughlin.com