Madge Veronica Dawkins

Madge Veronica Dawkins

Prov. 31:20 NIV

“She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.”

Madge Veronica Dawkins was born on April 23, 1943, in Grange District, in the Parish of Hanover, Jamaica, to her parents Clarabelle Johnson and Josephus Dawkins. She was the sixth of eight children.

She received her education at the Kendal All-Age School in the same parish. In 1960 Madge relocated to Western Kingston in search of job opportunities and resided with her beloved cousin, Blossom. Madge was ambitious and determined to improve herself. She worked diligently at several positions, including as a domestic helper, cashier, and as a receptionist at the Cross Road Motel. She was devoted to her children, and providing for them was her first priority.

In 1967, God blessed her with a position at Tastee Limited, one of the most recognized and successful pastry-making establishments in Jamaica. Madge loved her job and dedicated herself to mastering her craft. Her dedication and exemplary work ethic won her a place in the hearts of her employers and co-workers alike, and was recognized annually at the company’s awards ceremony for her excellence, punctuality, and flawless attendance. This was not an easy feat to achieve. It required her leaving her home at 5:00am every morning, to walk a mile and a half to the bus-stop, and another half a mile afterwards, in order to arrive on time for her 7:00 am shift. That’s dedication!

Madge was fashionable, stylish, and elegant, and was dubbed “the dressy, dressy lady,” by those in her community. She was an excellent cook as well and loved to bake and make Jamaican sweet treats. Among her specialties was a delicacy called “Blue Draws.” She was also known for her sumptuous sweet potato pudding, and Jamaican Black Cake.

Madge was a caring, kind, and selfless person. As an employee of Tastee, she was often given some of their products as perks. She never thought of keeping it all for herself and children but shared not only with her neighbors to the right and to the left of her, but to those across the street and down the block as well. During Hurricane Gilbert, when the Island was left with no electricity, she made sure those around had enough ice to cope with the Caribbean heat.

In her early years, although she had not yet fully committed her own life to Christ, she insisted on her children’s attendance to Sunday school and church weekly. NO EXCUSES!

In 1996, Madge eventually accepted Jesus as her personal Savior, and was baptized at Bethel Baptist Church, in Kingston Jamaica, where she worshipped and remained an active member until migrating to the US. She participated in the Woman’s Federation, an outreach ministry serving the community by visiting the sick and shut-ins, and also as a member of the “April Birth-Month Club.”

In 2000, her brother Adolphus Dawkins sponsored her migration to the United States. She resided in Brooklyn for 19 years and became a member of the Church of God of East New York. Madge loved her church family, and enjoyed the warmth, care, and love, displayed by them, and especially cherished the fellowship and family-like atmosphere she received there. She adopted the church’s motto as her own – “Trust Him (God), Obey Him, and Watch Him Work.”

Her favorite pastime was watching Television Gameshows: Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and Family Feud, and on Saturdays she enjoyed singing along to Bill Gaither’s gospel songs on TBN.

In July 2019 Madge relocated to New Jersey with her daughters Marcia, Nadine, son-in-law Anthony, and grandson TJ. She became ill on August 6th, 2022 and spent a considerable amount of time between Hospitals and Rehab facilities. On February 5, 2023 at 1:43pm, at Kindred Hospital in Rahway, New Jersey, God called his daughter home.

Madge was preceded in death by her first-born infant daughter Jacqueline, and first-born son, Leroy (aka Junior); her parents; 2 sisters; and 1 brother.

She is survived by children: Marcia Salmon-McKay (Husband – Anthony McKay), Everton Charlton (Wife – Lisa Fennell-Charlton), Corine Murphy, and Nadine Palmer.

Siblings: Gladys Martin, Adolphus Dawkins, Samuel Dawkins, and Edith Dawkins-Allen.

Grandchildren: Andre McKay, Amoy McKay, Tafari Plummer, Sheldon Charlton, Chennae Charlton, Everton Charlton (jr), Tamiah Murphy, Davier McKay, and Alleyah Charlton.

Great grand-children: Ashawni McKay, Shamoya Charlton, Amera McKay and Shajauni Charlton and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

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