Froncee Maddox Peed
Froncee Maddox Peed, 98, of Middletown, N.J. died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011, at Gateway Care Center, Eatontown, N.J.
She was born Dec. 11, 1912 in Jasper County, Monticello. She was the daughter of the late Washington Maddox and Eliza Thomas Maddox (who became widowed when her last child was two days old). Their union brought forth six children of which Froncee was the fifth; David, Etolia, Catherine, Lizzie Mae came before her and James Thomas was the last. Froncee was the last surviving sibling.
Her early education took place in Jaspar County and her gift of music provided her the opportunity to receive a high school diploma followed by two years of college from Fort Valley Normal and Industrial College. She taught elementary school briefly in the Rock Spring Community, Jasper County.
Shortly thereafter, she married John Jackson Barron. They had two sons, John W. Barron (deceased) and Oliver J. Barron, DDS, residing in Jasper County, Ga.
In the 1930s, she migrated to Middletown, where she found work as a live-in domestic with the J. Howard Smith and Peter and Gladys Cubbage families. She also continued to pursue her music lessons by travelling to New York, where she was instructed by highly educated music masters from the Julliard School of Music. This hard work and dedication allowed her to share her beautiful and gifted voice in concerts in churches and choirs for more than 50 years. She brought joy and pleasure to thousands throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties even in her last days at Gateway Care Center.
After 30 years as a domestic worker, she then went to the Red Bank Regional High School, where she worked as a cafeteria worker until she retired. In 1957, she entered into marriage with John H. Peed of Morehead City, N.C. They resided on Gillville Lane, Middletown. She was a devoted wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, and friend to many families. She was also loved and highly respected by her Gillville Lane neighbors. Their friendship provided a constant source of joy and comfort – even throughout her days at Gateway Care Center.
Her church, Shrewsbury Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church was ranked highly on her list of priorities. She sang with two choirs, the Zion Travellers and the Anthem Choir. No task was too small or large when her church was involved. Her gift of song and her preparation of food blessed many with whom she came in contact. She learned at a very early age how to turn difficulties and obstacles in her life into opportunities using her skills to grow spiritually. The best description of a life well spent can be best described by her devoted daughter-in-law and friend of more than 54 years, Vivian S. Barron.
“She was a courageous, strong willed, determined, gifted, devoted and committed woman; truly anchored in the God she served.”
Those left behind to cherish her memories are her son, O.J. Barron, DDS, Monticello; a devoted daughter-in-law, Vivian S. Barron-Spears; a special daughter, Lucretia Bell Sargent and her husband Ronal, Morris Plains; a grandson, John F. Barron, Lake Worth, Fla.; three great-grandchildren, Dominique A. Barron and Danielle Williams,both of Virginia Beach, Va., and Jonelle Vivian Barron, Lake Worth, Fla.; one great-great-granddaughter, Ayeonna Williams, also of Virginia Beach, Va. She also leaves behind her nieces, Katharyn Lewis, Pittsburgh, Pa., Velma Eliza Jackson, Pittsburgh, Pa.;, many cousins, church family, including her loving and devoted pastor, Rev. Ronald McDougal; her caregivers at Gateway Care Center; and her dedicated friends from Gillville Lane, Amanda Edwards, Joseph Chapman, Larry and Nancy McKnight, Janice Cox, and Arthur and Linda Watkins.
A graveside service was held Friday, Jan. 14 at Shoreland Memorial Gardens, Hazlet. Childs Funeral Home, Red Bank, N.J. is in charge of arrangements.