MADGE ANN YAWN SLADE

SAVANNAH - Madge Ann Yawn Slade, 89, died November 15, 2016 at Savannah Square.
She was born March 12, 1927, in Thomaston, GA to the late Robert Walker and Alberta H. Yawn. She graduated from R. E. Lee Institute in 1944 and from Wesleyan College in 1948.
On June 16, 1948, she was married to James Milton Slade in Thomaston, GA. Their love for their home of Thomaston and their friends there showed no bounds. Her friends in "The Bridge Club" were as close as any imaginable, but the Slades moved to Savannah in 2006 to be near their daughter. Madge was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Thomaston. She and her husband loved to dance and she never missed a chance for a good party. She will be greatly missed.
A lifelong educator and school administrator, Madge taught English and History at Rock Hill Elementary early in her career. She earned a Library Science degree and became a librarian and established a library at Atwater Elementary School in Thomaston. Continuing seemingly endless educational endeavors she earned a "Six Year Degree" in School Administration from the University of Georgia and would have earned a PhD had she written her Thesis. Madge was then promoted to Principal at Thurston Elementary School, When the city and county elementary schools were merged and a mega elementary school of 1,650 students was built in 1988, Madge became the Principal of the Primary section of that school until her retirement. She was loved by her students because she was a tough disciplinarian but always fair.
What was remarkable was how much she cared about and remembered every child she ever taught. She would always tell her family about what one or the other of her former students had accomplished.
Madge was a strong, fiercely independent woman who overcame adversity when shortly after her retirement she developed severe Macula Degeneration of her eyesight. She learned to use a special machine that would expand text to giant words that she was able to read from a computer screen one or a few letters at a time. She would not let her eyesight stop her from the most complex task.
Special love and thanks to the loving staff at Savannah Square. The Health Center staff was so kind to her in her final weeks. Thanks to the Patricia Greene family who were there for her so much. Sonya Williams who cared for her in the evenings lately. Most importantly, the most heartfelt thank you and love to Patricia Walker who has been like the second daughter to Madge for the past three years. Pat has truly been an Angel to her and has worked tirelessly to give her the best care anyone could have asked for.
Madge is survived by her daughter, Susanne S. Mock and her husband, William H. "Billy" Mock, Jr. of Savannah; grandchildren, William H. Mock III of Palmetto Bluff, SC, Michael Joseph Mock of Buckhead, GA, Patrick O'Brien Mock and his wife, Kim, of Woodstock, GA, and Chloe Ann Mock of Woodstock, GA; her niece, Christina Ann George (Jeff) of Perry, GA; great-nieces, Ashley W. McConnell (Brad) of Perry, GA and Audrey Kearse George of Denver, CO; and great-grand nieces, Slade, Grey, and Elizabeth Ann McConnell of Perry, Ga.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother, Robert Earl Yawn, her brother-in-law, Thomas Jefferson Slade III and his wife, Ann Kearse Slade.
A graveside funeral service will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, November 18, 2016 at Southview Cemetery in Thomaston, GA.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests remembrances to the Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision, 1141 Cornell Ave., Savannah, GA 31406 or to a charity of your choice.
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