Madge Brinson

Madge Anna Cross Brinson passed peacefully into heaven on April 29, 2022, at 100 years of age. She was born in Chatham County, NC, near Corinth in 1922. She lived on a farm with her parents, James Cross Sr. and lula (Dickens) Cross, brother, James Jr., and sisters, Hazel, Mary, and Helen. She was taught to be resilient from a young age, helping in the fields picking cotton, growing vegetables, milking cows, and raising chickens. Her greatest childhood memories were of her family singing and playing music together on the piano, fiddle, guitar and ukulele. When Madge was just 4 years old, she contracted Polio. She was very lucky to survive, and she was believed to be the oldest living Polio survivor in 2022. Madge’s father died in 1935 leaving Iula to maintain the household and raise five children. Their strong faith helped them through these tough times.

Madge left home to work at Fort Bragg army base in the administrative offices. She enjoyed her work, and loved dancing to the live big band music at the dances on the base. On a trip to Raleigh with a friend, she met her husband, Leo T. Brinson Jr., who was a Mechanical Engineering student at NC State. They were married in a church in Milwaukee, WI. They moved to the suburbs and raised two children, Ed and Linda. As a family of four, they enjoyed many ski trips, camping trips, and visiting relatives in NC.

Leo’s career later took them to St Cloud, MN and Darien, IL. No matter where they lived, Madge always enjoyed hosting dinner parties and making many lifelong friends along the way. She continued to stay close with her siblings and extended family by attending an annual family reunion in NC. She was also fortunate to accompany Leo on a couple business trips to Europe. On one trip they celebrated their 25^th anniversary by having dinner at the Eiffel Tower!

In 1987 Madge and Leo retired to Leo’s hometown of Arapahoe, NC, where they enjoyed many good times with Leo’s relatives, especially Gladys and Jack Lee. Throughout their 50 years of marriage, they spent many wonderful days fishing and boating, traveling to local theaters, going to clambakes, and taking the grandchildren to Atlantic Beach when they came to visit. Madge had a huge garden, and enjoyed her gorgeous yard filled with magnolia trees, azaleas, dogwoods and gardenias.

In 2000, after Leo passed away, Madge moved to Madison, WI to live near her two children and three granddaughters. She loved watching her granddaughters grow up, and enjoyed going to their athletic events, birthday parties, graduations, and weddings. She also enjoyed many great years with Ed and his wife Sue living nearby. Sue took after Madge’s green thumb and always helped keep her sunroom plants and flowers looking beautiful. On the weekends, she loved spending time with her family and taking trips to Olbrich Gardens and seeing movies at the Sundance Theater. Christmas was always a very special time. As the matriarch of the family, she played Christmas carols on the piano while everyone sang along and decorated the tree and Christmas cookies. She was even lucky enough to spend Christmas with her two great-grandchildren, Eliana and Liam, whom she loved dearly. Nothing made her smile more than a baby on her lap or a prank by her son-in-law, Johnny!

During Madge’s 100 years, she witnessed many changes in the world. From her humble start on a farm without running water or electricity, she went on to adapt to the many technologies that developed over her lifetime. She learned to play Bridge on the computer, create personalized cards, use a cell phone and use a GPS to drive around town. Most recently, she learned to use Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends spread far and wide, and loved seeing everyone’s family photos. Throughout her many moves, she gracefully adapted to new climates and new places, making many friends along the way. Her interests included singing in church and women’s groups, piano playing, sewing and crafting, cooking, gardening, bowling, and playing Bridge. Over the last 22 years in Madison, she enjoyed the friendship of many people in her wonderful apartment complex, Sauk Gardens, in Middleton, WI, especially Sally, who was always by her side.

Madge passed peacefully at St. Mary’s Care Center in Madison, WI where she resided for one year. Madge is survived by her two children, Edward (Susan) Brinson and Linda (Barry) Fox; her three granddaughters, Meghan, Molly (Gili Vaknin) and Lana Fox (Johnny Uelmen); and her two great-grandchildren, Eliana and Liam Vaknin. Madge is also survived by many special nieces, nephews, and cousins residing in CA, IL, AZ, FL, TN and VA.

Besides being a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, our “Grammy Madge”, aka “GramGram,” loved animals, flowers, and music. Madge’s laughter was contagious and made an entire room light up. She always had an optimistic attitude, and was up for any activity her grandchildren and great-grandchildren came up with. She was a strong, independent woman who lived in her own apartment until she was 99. She loved sweet peaches, ice cream, and open-faced cheese sandwiches. She always had a catchy tune for any situation. Everything she did was centered around family, and she led by example, building three more generations from pure love. When asked, Madge said that if she could have one wish, she wished she could “win the lottery and help a lot of people that need help.” Her dream was for her children and grandchildren to live a life full of happiness. Everyone who knew Madge adored her for her sweet Southern charm, kindness, and heart of gold. She lived life to the fullest and was an inspiration to all who met her. She will be deeply missed by everyone whose life she touched. We love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck!

Her cremains will be buried with her family at Buckhorn Methodist Church Cemetery at Corinth, NC, at a date yet to be determined.

For anyone wishing to honor Madge’s life, please consider a contribution to Buckhorn United Methodist Church, 2438 NC Hwy 42, Moncure, NC 27559.

A special thanks to at Agrace HomeCare, Brightstar, St Mary’s Care Center, and two outstanding healthcare providers at UW Geriatrics. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761