Madge "Maggie" Walker - McCray

Madge “Maggie” Walker McCray, 82 years old, peacefully left this life behind on Thursday, November 2, 2023.  She was a 5 year resident of Algood, Tennessee and former longtime resident of Nashville, Tennessee.  Maggie was born in Madison, TN on November 20, 1940, the youngest child of Charles Walker and Marie Trouillas Walker. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister, Marie Walker Hall and brothers, Jeane Walker and Jack Walker. 

She is survived by her loving and cherished family.  Husband, Tom McCray; Daughter, Janelle (Bob) Welch; Son, Terry (Cathy) Bowersox; 7 Grandchildren,  Adam Distefano, Terry Bowersox, Jr, Daniel Bowersox, Christine Baxter, Melissa Svendson, Christopher Proudfoot and Cassie Proudfoot; 13 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great Great Grandchild.

Maggie had many different rolls in her life. She was a daughter, sister, mother, wife, head of household, mentor, friend and sometimes minister and teacher.  She was a single mother in a world before being a single mother was ‘cool’.  It was before the world knew of all the times and trials and mountains a single mother would need to overcome just to be a mother to her children.  She worked two jobs at a time just to be sure her children had what they needed.  Any time she was knocked down by the problems of life and her load got heavy, she just took it as one of life’s lessons and stood up taller each time she got back up.  She was knowledgeable about many things, quick witted, hardworking and tried to do her best at any challenge.  She loved  traveling, cooking, writing short stories, acting in local live theatre, reading or listening to books, ballroom dancing, dressing up for social events, splurging occasionally for fine dining and driving to the ocean and beaches. In the early 1980’s she lost her sight, but never missed a beat.  She never complained but just made all the adjustments in her life to learn to live independently.  She studied and became a Massage Therapist.  She had many clients because she excelled at her profession. She also studied holistic healing.  She truly was a ‘lifelong learner’.  She was admired by all who knew her and witnessed her determined, strong willed spirit and resolved faith in the Lord.  In 2007 she was awarded the ‘Bootstrap Award’. She fiercely loved her family and they were always her first priority.  She adopted her 3 caregivers, Joyce, Amber and Lisa into her family.  She always appreciated and loved them for their wonderful care for 5 years.  Amber has said caring for Maggie was the biggest blessing in her life and she will always treasure every moment spent with her. Each and every person exposed to her spirit and heart walked away from her with a different attitude and perspective on life.

Maggie always ended phone conversations with, “Let’s mark our place……..”