Biography: MADGE WOOTTON BROWN, 94, of Little Rock died peacefully Monday, February 26, 2024.  She was born June 11, 1929 in Hot Springs, AR. She graduated from the University of Arkansas and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. Madge returned to Hot Springs where she was introduced by close friends to Frank Brown, a handsome Merrill Lynch stockbroker whom she married and shared 57 wonderful years together. Madge loved to entertain at their Lake Hamilton home, especially hosting birthday parties for their 3 children. She was a wonderful cook, known for her chocolate cake and homemade bread. One of her daughter’s favorite memories was at Christmas time, getting all dressed up (white gloves and all!) and delivering her mother’s homemade bread to friends and godparents. Madge also loved the outdoors. She has literally hiked all over the world. But her favorite times outdoors were spent with Frank as they would camp in the mountains out west and he would fly fish and she would spend the day hiking.
 
Besides dedication to her family and friends, Madge was drawn to volunteer work. She was influenced by her grandmother in Hot Springs. She would accompany her grandmother who worked with orphans and in hospitals. Madge was taught to value and respect all people and to help those in need. She was active and chaired several community organizations in Hot Springs. As a member of St Luke’s Episcopal Church she was director of the Alter Guild and served as Episcopal Churchwomen’s Christian Education chair and ECW President. In 1967, due to Merrill Lynch consolidating offices, Madge and Frank moved the family from their lake home to Little Rock. They soon found their new church home at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, then just a mission. Over her service career, Madge served or chaired every ministry committee at St. Michael’s as well as publishing the church’s newsletter and baked all the communion bread for 18 years.
 
Madge’s volunteer church work expanded to the Episcopal Diocesan and national levels. Among her rolls at the Diocese, she was editor of the quarterly newsletter, served on the Executive Council, chaired the Episcopal Churchwomen, began and chaired the ECW Christian Education and Communications departments, set up and coordinated the Diocesan Ministries office and organized and chaired the Diocesan convention. At the national level, Madge served on and chaired several committees including the Triennial Committee, United Thank Offering, commission for social and specialized ministries and coordinator for the Mexican-American ministries in the Southwest.
 
Madge’s community activities include being a co-organizer and board member of St. Francis House, a co-founder and later chair of the Arkansas Inter-Faith Hunger Task Force, out of which emerged the Hunger Hike which she chaired, the Arkansas Foodbank Network and the Arkansas Rice Depot. She was Arkansas coordinator for the World Hunger Education/Action Together (WHEAT). She was long-time member of the Pulaski County Committee of Heifer Project International and for 4 years chaired the Program Committee. She was organizer for and chair of the proposal committee for Hands Across America Coalition which gave rise to Our House Shelter. She organized Solutions across America which fights hunger and homelessness. She was also a long time member of PEO Sisterhood and Confratere of the Community of the Holy Spirit. In 1990 Madge was awarded the Community Service Award sponsored by KARK-TV and the Arkansas Office of Volunteerism.
 
Made was always striving to learn. She completed the Sewanee “Education for Ministry” Program of Theological Education. She was also known for being calm, direct and a good listener, especially in contentious situations. She also had great writing skills and wrote several resources for the church. When Madge spoke, people listened.
 
Madge was predeceased by her husband Frank M. Brown, her mother, Martha Wooten Bondurant and father Robert S. Collings. She is survived by her daughter Candy Johnson, (Mike), sons Paul Brown (Susan) and S. Whittington Brown, all of Little Rock; grandchildren Stuart Johnson (Stacey), Bentonville, AR, Drew Johnson (Kelley), Berthoud, CO and Adam Johnson (Erin), Seattle, WA, Turnor  Brown, Fayetteville, AR and Asher Brown, Little Rock; great-grandchildren Quinn, Jordan, Alan, Ada, Luke and Felix; uncle Mike Collings (Debbie) of Missouri City, TX and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
 
Funeral service will be Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 2 PM at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 12415 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR 72223, with internment following at the Church's Columbarium. 
 
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:
St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 12415 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR 72223
Our House Shelter, P O Box 34155, Little Rock, AR 72203
St. Francis House, 270 S. Elm St., Little Rock, AR 72204
Heifer International, 1 World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202

 
Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com