William Henry Maddox, Jr.

William Henry Maddox, Jr., son of the late Clara Divers Cox and William Henry Maddox, Sr., was born on October 21, 1931 in Cooptown, Maryland. He was the brother of the late Ernestine Divers McLain. After a lengthy illness, he passed away in the early hours of July 4, 2026.

William was active in Fairview AME church from a young age and continued attendance until his wife passed away in 2017. At Fairview, he sang with the Men’s Chorus, he worked on the Trustee Board and participated in other church and community activities. As a child, William attended Fairview School in the parsonage of Fairview AME Church on Highpoint Road in Forest Hill, MD. He continued his education at Bel Air Colored School on Hays Street in Bel Air, Maryland.

In September 1953, William married his late wife, Edna Ringgold of Sparks, MD. They had one daughter, Olga Maddox. In the family, he was the quiet and dependable husband, father, brother, uncle, and in-law whom his family turned to for assistance. While William worked construction, he was generally known as the guy who could fix anything. Friends and family enlisted him to make mechanical repairs or complete building projects at their homes. There was always a car project of some sort in his yard. In his early years he spent weekends switching out engines or transmissions to ensure his family and friends had working transportation.

In 1994, William retired from construction. However, people still called on him for building and repair projects. He was never one to sit still and in 1999, in preparation for aging, he personally completed a first-floor bedroom addition on their two-story home. He showcased his talents with upgrades usually found in larger, more modern homes. The skylight and domed ceiling in the kitchen, along with the breakfast bar he designed and built, added a new and interesting perspective to his cozy 1920s house.

After Edna’s passing in 2017, William continued to live independently in his home until 2020. When the COVID 19 epidemic struck, he moved in with his niece Alice Hayes and his grandniece Leslie Hayes. During the day he spent time in his own home, doing his laundry, caring for his yard and maintaining his independence. During the summer months he could be found sitting in his yard or on his front porch watching the deer graze his property.

In February 2025, William suffered his second stroke. After a brief stay in rehabilitation, he was able to move to a small assisted living facility where he regained much of his independence and received the additional daily care and assistance he required. He celebrated his 94th birthday in October 2025 at the facility with family members and friends, along with his fellow residents. On Christmas day, 2025, he shared a joyful dinner and a visit with his daughter, his niece, grandniece and a close family friend. After six months of declining health, William passed from this life to eternal life on July 4, 2026.

He is survived by and will be missed by his daughter, Olga Maddox, his niece and grandniece, Alice and Leslie Hayes, his nieces, Bernice Warfield, Patricia McLain, Carolyn McLain, Jeffery Mikel Hayes who was like a son, and multiple other nieces, nephews, great and grandnieces and nephews and other family and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley Inc., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, Maryland on Saturday, July 11, 2026 from 10:00 am to11:00 am with a Celebration of his Life beginning at 11:00 am.

Interment will be on Monday, July 13, 2026 at 12:00pm at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. Please meet at the lake at the cemetery.