Verna Madden (1923-2014)

earliest known photo of Verna,
with her dad George Madden ca 1927

Verna Madden was born on November 9, 1923 to 18 year old Dora Thomas Madden and 26 year old George W. Madden, their first child.  Verna lived primarily in Kentucky and briefly in Michigan during her 90 years.  "Monkey" was her nickname among many of her nieces and nephews.  Verna's outstanding traits included her humor, kindness, wisdom, and love of God.  She was an accomplished seamstress and has sewn many quilts for her family, working with her Aunt Callie and others.  She was such a blessing in my life.

Verna was married at a young age to Paris Charles, Jr. but they separated early.  She was single until her later years when she was briefly married to Mr. Troglen of the Harlan area.  Though Verna's only two children were lost to miscarriages, she served as an additional mother to many of her siblings' children.  Ruth

One of the many quilts
Verna made 

and Fay's children and grandchildren lived in the same neighborhood on Bill's Creek (Dizney, Harlan County, Kentucky) much of their life and share many wonderful stories of how Verna was there for them and they were certainly a great blessing to her.  Ed and Ewell's children lived further away but cherished the visits, phone calls or sweet cards from Aunt Verna during the years.  As long as she lived in the old family homeplace on Bill's Creek, extended family was welcomed back with open arms and, as long as she was able, she would always cook the guests' favorite foods or have their favorite drinks ready.

It was a real treat when Verna came to visit us in Tennessee, usually accompanied by Ruth or Fay.  When brother Ed passed away, Verna was so broken hearted.  She spent many years caring for elderly or sick people in the community.  She would help those struggling financially or in other ways as much as she could.  She was faithful to pray for others and I believe that God blessed me and many others through her prayers over the years.

Verna had a great memory right up until the end - able to recall things from throughout her life with great clarity.  Our family tree research was greatly helped through her memories, photos and tales.  She would surprise me from time to time with a new "old" photo that she had found in her green trunk!

Verna loved the Lord and would share sweet testimonies of how God had blessed her life, even through hard times.  She was faithful to the Lord and to the little church on the hill behind her house, a Pentecostal church.  She would never speak ill of others religious beliefs.  She shared with me during an August 2013 visit a story of how she was lying in bed, praying one night and asking God if He could really love her, when she heard Him speak to her.  When she was telling this story, I turned on my phone recorder and got the last little bit - it is included below and I hope when family and friends hear it, they will be able to remember her sweet voice telling you that she loves you and reassuring you of God's love, too!  When she was in the hospital a few weeks before her death, she told me that she was praying and reached up to heaven and she saw Jesus reaching down to her and telling her that He was with her.

When Verna turned 80 we had a big birthday party and started counting off to the 90th birthday party.  She was often in severe pain from arthritis and osteoporosis (degenerative discs, etc.) and had some heart issues but when she would talk about being ready to 'go home' to heaven, we would remind her that she had a 90th birthday party to attend.  She helped us with the planning of that 90th birthday party which was held on November 2, 2013 and it was such a blessing for many family and friends to be with her on that special day, sharing their love.  Here are some links related to that last birthday party with her.

1) The collection of 90 years of photos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmj2s9AFqyQ
2) The various photos from the 90th birthday party:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWpZrOiMAEU

A few months after her 90th birthday, Verna fell and broke her hip.  She went through surgery and rehab but had complications and began failing and passed away February 10, 2014 in Kingsport, TN at the hospital, with family at her bedside.  Her funeral service was at Locust Grove Baptist Church and she was laid to rest on the hill behind her house, near her parents and grandparents.  

Verna and her great-niece,
Elizabeth Harmann Lisic

Lauren Smith (great niece), Verna, sister Ruth Smith,
great nieces Veronica Shackleford Carlson
 and WhitleyShackleford Blair