Madora Ella Powell

Notes:

Madora Powell (1926-2011)

Madora P. Fillman, 84, of York, died Aug. 20, 2011 after a
courageous three-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis and
diabetes. She was born Nov. 16, 1926 at Blanch, N.C., to
Robert G. and Mary (Gatewood) Powell. Madora was educated
in the County Schools of Caswell County, N.C., and then
graduated from Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, N.C., and
Averett University in Danville, Va. Madora was employed in
Danville, Va., and the Department of Public Utilities in
Raleigh, N.C. She then moved to New York City and was
employed by Chase Manhattan Bank. She excelled in the use
of shorthand and was proficient all her life. It was in New
York City when she met Gordon B. Fillman on Nov. 13, 1953 -
the day he graduated from Navy OCS on his 24th birthday.
They were married in Long Beach, Calif., on April 24, 1954
where he served in the U.S. Navy. After he returned from
Japan, they moved to North Chicago, Ill., where he was
assigned to Great Lakes ADCOM Legal. She enjoyed many happy
reunions over the years with her Navy friends.

Madora and Gordon had five children: Rhonda, Gary, Mary
Elizabeth, Susan and Steven. She has lived in York since
January 1958. She has been a member of First United
Methodist Church of York for over 50 years and enjoyed
Deborah Circle. She was first a member of Blanch Baptist
Church and later became a member of Riverside Church in New
York City. Madora enjoyed travel and accompanied Gordon to
three Rotary International Conventions in Denver, Mexico
City and Birmingham, England. She was also a Rotary Paul
Harris Fellow. She and Gordon visited 48 of the United
States, Sweden, Norway and Germany, as well as, visiting
all six Eastern European countries, including Yugoslavia,
before the breakup occurred. A favorite country was
Romania. Separate trips included all of Turkey and later
Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore.

Madora is survived by her husband, Gordon B. Fillman of
York; her daughter, Rhonda (Brad) Barrows of Denton; son,
Gary (Gina) Fillman of Omaha; daughter, Susan (David) Wood
of Lincoln; and son, Steven (Karen) Fillman of York;
brother, William K. (Margie) Powell of Danville, Va.; and
sister, Elizabeth Ann (David) Sparks of Ringgold, Va.;
sisters-in-law, Myrtle Powell of Charlotte, N.C. and Gwen
Dahlquist of Minneapolis, Minn.; grandchildren, Jennifer
Guido, Stephanie (Aaron) Bauer, Hannah Fillman, Elizabeth
Fillman and David Fillman; great-grandchildren, Taylor
Guido and Noah and Mason Bauer; step-grandchildren, Liz
(David) Chalenburg with sons Aiden and Holden, and Ryan
(Anne) Barrows and daughter Martha; and several nieces and
nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her brother,
Robert G. Powell Jr.; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law,
Warren and Joan Fillman; and an infant daughter, Mary
Elizabeth, who died in 1959. Madora was a very loving
person and enjoyed her family and friends very much. She
had hundreds of books and magazines and delighted in
reading to her children when they were young and her
grandchildren. She was also an excellent cook and we always
enjoyed her fried chicken and all types of desserts that
she made, including zucchini bread. One of her favorite
activities was sitting on the front porch having coffee
with her friends. If it was raining late at night, she
enjoyed very much being out on the porch and watching it
rain. She was a dear person and we will miss her very much.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug.
24, 2011, at the First United Methodist Church in York.
Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, York. Suggested
memorials to First United Methodist Church of York
Foundation or American Diabetes Association. Visitation was
held at Metz Mortuary on Monday from 5-9 p.m. and on
Tuesday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. with family greeting friends
from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. Condolences may be left
for the family at www.metzmortuary.com. Services conducted
by Metz Mortuary of York.

York News-Times (York, Nebraska). Published: Tuesday,
August 23, 2011 1:12 AM CDT.

!NAME:Details: The Heritage of Caswell County, North
Carolina, Jeannine D. Whitlow, Editor (1985) at
226-227 (Article #246 "S, Details: The Heritage of
Caswell County, North Carolina, Jeannine D. Whitlow,
Editor (1985) at 226-227 (Article #246 "S

Madora married Gordon B Fillman 24 Apr 1954, Long Beach, California. [Group Sheet]