Frances Patty Madison

Frances Patty Madison, 94, of Brooksville, MS. departed our presence here on this earth and ascended to the heavens on Sunday, April 24, 2016. A graveside service will be held Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 2: 00 p.m. at Brooksville Cemetery with her grandsons and nephews serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be held at Cockrell Funeral Home in Macon, MS Wednesday from 12:00-1:30 p.m.

Eleanor Frances Patty was born on March 1, 1922 to the late Barnett Glenn and Charlotte Whiteway Patty. She was raised on a farm near Bigbee Valley, MS and attended schools in Cliftonville and Brooksville. After her graduation from Brooksville High School, she attended Mississippi State College for Women and the University of Mississippi where she was a member of the Tri-Delta Sorority. Her English degree fell one semester short when she left school to work with Fisher Aircraft in Memphis in support of the war effort during WWII.

She married Brooksville native David Pledger Madison on August 3, 1945 and, after his discharge from the army at the end of WWII, followed him during his professional baseball career. They then settled in Brooksville and built their home there. Mrs. Madison was a homemaker and was very active in The Episcopal Church of the Ascension as well as in the public and private school’s activities during her children’s years in school. She also worked for a brief time at Tem’s Food Market in Brooksville. She was a member of the Macon Junior Auxiliary, Noxubee County Historical Society, Frith Lake Club and the Baptist Memorial Hospital Pink Ladies Auxiliary. Any who were fortunate enough to be blessed by her benevolence benefited from her inspirations. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and one brother: James Whiteway Patty.

Mrs. Madison is survived by her children: Charon (John) Hardy of Columbus, MS; Buzzy (Ellen) Madison of Caruthersville, MO; Pat (Tammy) Madison of Brooksville, MS and Mimi (Ronnie) Wood of Starkville, MS as well as by seven grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

The family would like to express a special heart-felt thanks to Willie Bell Robinson, Alice Wells, Pam White and the other Gentiva Hospice nurses and staff for all of the care that was given to our mother during her illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908, Gentiva Hospice, 1085 Stark Rd #306, Starkville, MS 39759, and Brooksville Cemetery Fund c/o Melanie Hines, 586 Hines Rd., Brooksville MS 39739 or the donor’s choice. Cockrell Funeral Home (www.cockrellfuneralhome.com) is entrusted with arrangements.