Mrs. Lorraine Lawson Madden was born on August 29, 1949, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey,
to Plemmie Lee Lawson Sr. and Carrie Mae Thomas. Lorraine received her early education
in the Edison Public School System before moving to Rahway, NJ, in1960. She continued her
education, culminating in her graduation from Rahway High School in 1967. Two years later,
she married her sweetheart and they had two children.
Lorraine furthered her education by attending a trade school for typing and health education
programs for Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide. She also received a diploma from
Drake College of Business for Medical Office Technology.
Lorraine accepted Christ as her personal savior at a young age while she attended Mt.
Pleasant Baptist Church in Edison, NJ. She remained a faithful member for many years.
Lorraine ultimately followed her father and her heart to Progressive Baptist Church
located in Rahway, NJ, under the loving leadership of Reverend Ollie C. Johnson. Progressive
Baptist Church became her forever church home. Lorraine loved the Lord, and she loved being of
service to Him. She enjoyed singing in the choir, serving as a trustee and serving on the usher
board. She also served as president of the usher board at Progressive for many years and until
her untimely passing. Lorraine also enjoyed making silk flowers (to be worn by members) for church anniversaries and other special occasions.
Lorraine began her service to others with her first job of volunteering at the Rahway Hospital as a
candy striper. She also held numerous positions at several different businesses / establishments
over the years. She worked diligently to not only provide for her two children, but to assist anyone
else in need. Most notably, Lorraine was employed for many years as a Nurses' Aide and a Home
Health Aide. Although she retired from Solaris Health Systems-JFK in 2012, she continued to take
on private cases in the years following her retirement. She simply loved caring for others and the awards and acknowledgements she received in and outside of her field were a testament to how
dedicated, compassionate and caring she was.
In her leisure time, Lorraine enjoyed a multitude of activities. She sang for several years with the
100 Women in White Community Choir at 2nd Baptist Church in Rahway. She enjoyed visiting with
former patients and their families with whom she developed special bonds. She loved to create
poetry and other writings. She loved shopping with her children, granddaughters and her sisters.
She also enjoyed music, sewing, walking or relaxing at Rahway Park, watching the rain, laughing,
singing, dancing and having long talks in the car with each of her sisters and her daughter. She absolutely loved being "NeNe" to her granddaughter, Gianna, who she affectionately called "mama." She was a member of the American Legion Women's Auxiliary Post 499, for many years, where she also held the position of president. She was a football mom, a PTA mom, a proud honor roll mom and a pageant mom. She was an immaculate record and memory keeper and family photographer. She did it all and she was amazing.
Lorraine received her Angel Wings on February 28, 2024. She spent her final days lovingly surrounded
by her immediate family. She was truly blessed and will be deeply missed. Lorraine was preceded in
death by her parents, Plemmie Lee and Carrie Mae Lawson, and her sisters Elaine Lawson Clarke and
Delores Newkirk. She leaves to cherish her memory, one son, Barry Wayne Madden, Jr, and one
daughter, Erica Lorraine (John), Three granddaughters, Kalilah, Zaria, and Gianna. Three sisters, Carrie Lawson Henderson (James) of Pemberton, NJ. Leola Phipps (Leslie Sr.), of Roselle, NJ, and Wannita Hampton (Terrance Sr.) of Rahway, NJ. Two brothers, Plemmie Lawson Jr. (Carol), of Rahway NJ and Timothy Lawson (Renay) of Pennsylvania. She also leaves her God-son, Isaiah Lamar Hampton, a favorite "baby" cousin,
Eugene Lawson, and a host of extended relatives, including nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.