Nelda Madden Obituary

Nelda Kay Madden

October 29, 1937 - July 3, 2025

Tupelo, Mississippi - Nelda Kay Madden, 87, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2025. She spent her final years at Countrywood Manor and Lakeview Place Memory Care in Mantachie, MS.

Born at home in Philadelphia, MS, Nelda was raised as an only child by educator parents. Much of her childhood was spent living in teacher housing across various school districts in central Mississippi. In 10th grade, her family finally built and settled on the family farm in Sebastopol, MS.

After high school, she attended East Central Community College, where she served as a majorette, before earning her degree in Home Economics from Mississippi State College for Women.

Though her sights were set on Florida, she accepted her first job offer on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, turning down a later offer in Florida to honor her original commitment. After teaching for several years, she discovered her true professional calling as the Auditing Supervisor at Sears in Edgewater Mall. Those who knew Nelda know she loved spotting problems, pointing out inconsistencies, or reminding you when your lawn needed mowing!

After marrying, she left Sears to travel the world with her husband, Dick, who worked in the oil industry. They lived in Iran, Japan, Scotland, and South Korea before settling back in Gulfport after Dick's retirement. She returned to work part-time following his death in 1995 and unintentionally became "the cat lady." Even after fully retiring, she regularly drove back to her former workplace to feed the strays.

In 2012, Nelda moved to Tupelo, MS, to be closer to her daughter as she began experiencing the effects of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. She lived in one of her daughter's properties until 2020, when she transitioned into assisted living. Despite her dementia, she was convinced she was fine, and took it upon herself to alert the staff when other residents were misbehaving.

She never met a stranger and could connect people faster than the Internet, always uncovering mutual friends, distant relatives, or shared memories, no matter how far from home she was. She was a straight shooter. If you asked her for advice, you'd get the honest, unfiltered truth. But she was also respectful of boundaries and knew everyone had to make their own choices. She adored her only daughter and got great joy out of reintroducing her to the staff every time she visited, occasionally introducing her as "her mother."

Nelda was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Katherine Burns; and her husband, Dick Madden. She is survived by her daughter, Ellen Haynes; and son-in-law, Shad Haynes, both of Tupelo, MS.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to the compassionate caregivers at Countrywood Manor/Lakeview Place, and Sanctuary Hospice. They loved her well, and she gave it right back.

A private family graveside burial will be held in Sebastopol, MS. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Humane Society of South Mississippi.