Mary Marguerite Medley “Mard” was born to the proud parents, Bassie Kincade
and Marie Harris Thompson on October 6, 1926. Both parents preceded her in
death.
A Queen was born.
She was the oldest of four children. Mard Accepted Christ at an early age. She met
and married the love of her life James Medley Sr. and in 1952 they moved to
Chicago, IL to make a better life for their children.
Mard was always very independent, strong willed and ambitious. She became a
housekeeper to help her husband provide for their household. She then started work-
ing at Norwegian American Hospital where she continued to do housekeeping. She
became so known at the hospital and she also took it upon herself to cook for the
patients. That is where she came up with her famous recipe “Medley Stew”. After
over 10 years at the hospital she retired, but still had a full time job at home with
her husband and their thirteen kids.
Actually work didn’t just stop with her children. Mard adopted well over 20 of her
grandchildren and great grandchildren. They all lived in the home that her and her
husband James had purchased. Mard was a mother to all of her children, grand-
children, great grandchildren, the neighborhood children and so on. “Mard meant
Mother”.
Mard and James spent 58 beautiful hard working years together until the day the
Lord called James home. Mard and James both spent about 1 to 2 weeks in the
hospital at the time of their deaths, before coming back to the home that they built
together and then were comfortable enough to pass away peacefully in their sleep.
To that union 13 children were born. Dorothy Barber (Lovell), Lola Faye, Larry Med-
ley Sr. (Vicky), Steven Medley (Linda Pilcher), Terry Medley and Diane Medley
(Antjuan Bingham) whom all preceded her in death. Mard also had one sister,
Cleotha whom preceded her in death.
Mard leaves to cherish her precious memories: Her remaining children, James Medley
Jr., Alice Marie Saffold Williams (Tyrone), Jerry Medley (Lisa), Rose (Richard), Perry
(Alfreda), Cheryl (Milton) and Leon; one brother, Jimmy Kincade; fifty plus grand-
children; ninety plus more great grandchildren; one special daughter-in-law, Linda
Medley; one special son-in-law, Willie Saffold; a host of great great grandchildren,
nieces, nephews, cousins, friends; and one special friend, Dorothy Jean Hines.
If you didn’t learn a lesson and phrase from Mrs. Marguerite Medley, shame on you
because she was sent to teach and gave a lesson to anyone that crossed her path
and when God saw that her job was done, He called her to her original birth place.
Musical Prelude - “Bye & Bye” .......... The Georgia Mass Choir
Processional ............................................ Family & Minister
Scripture & Special Words ..................... Delaree Medley-Diop
Prayer ....................................................................Pastor
Selection - “Trouble of the World” ............... Mahalia Jackson
Acknowledgements and Resolutions ...................................
Remarks (2 min. please) .............................. Family & Friends
Obituary ........................................... Tyrina Medley-Phillips
Video Tribute ..................................................................
Eulogy ............................................ Bishop James A. Jones
Pastor of True Foundation Church,
189 E. Lincoln Hwy, Chicago Heights, IL
Benediction .......................................................... Minister
Recessional ............................................ Family & Minister
At the Family’s Request
Private
Burr Oak Cemetery
4400 W. 127th St.
Alsip, IL 60803
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Visitation: 12:00 p.m. Service: 12:30 p.m.
Smith and Thomas
5708 W. Madison St. Chicago, Illinois 60644