Madea

Nellie Queenesther "Madea” was born on February 29, 1924, in Texarkana, Texas. She received the Lord at the age of seven and was baptized at Red Springs Baptist Church. She spent most of her childhood in Texarkana and attended Dunbar High School but was unable to complete her studies there. Nellie gave birth to eight children: Ruby Ford-Dickson, Larry J. Mathis, Richard Terrant, Charles Mathis, Beverly Cox, James Eddins, Reggie Sanders, and Ronald Sanders.

 

At the age of 37, and being a mother of eight, Nellie went back to Dunbar High to obtain her GED. In her early life, she moved to Berkley, California for three years. She then moved back to Texas and provided home care and later worked as a nurse's aide at Wadely Hospital in Texarkana. She then became a federal employee at the U.S. Army Red River Ammunition Depot in Texarkana, Texas. In 1974, Nellie relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she transferred her federal employment status to the U.S. Army Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado, and worked as a dietary aid until her retirement.

 

In October 1974, she joined the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church when there were only a few members worshiping in a converted house at 422 Security Boulevard. Nellie held choir rehearsals in her home while waiting for the church to be built. She was a member of the choir and served as choir president from 1975-1976. She also served in the Mission and was president of the Lula Blue Circle for several years.

 

Nellie's life, like most, had moments of sorrow and grief: Her mother died in 1965, and her father died in 1978. She lost her 16-year-old son, Charles Ray, in 1964 due to an automobile accident. Her husband, Jesse Sanders, died in 1965. Two of her brothers, Charlie and Curtis Cornelius, also passed away before her. After her husband's death, Nellie raised her remaining 7 children as a "single parent." She was always a faithful, dedicated, and supporting Christian. She was a member of the New Jerusalem Mothers Board and the 8:00 A.M. Choir. Nellie was crowned Mrs. New Jerusalem in 1991. Nellie Queenesther passed away on September 1, 1994.