Essie Lee Madea Calloway

Essie Lee “Madea” Calloway of Midland City, Alabama passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at Southeast Alabama Medical Center. She was 95.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at 11 am at Sardis Baptist Church with Rev Paul Cowley officiating. Burial will follow in Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery with Robert Byrd directing. Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5-7 pm on Monday, February 13, 2017.

Ms. Calloway was born on May 28, 1921 in Shorterville, AL and lived the early years of her life there. She moved to Dothan in 1960 and was a homemaker. She loved to sew, listen to music, and loved to dance. Ms. Calloway was a member of Sardis Baptist Church and was a loving foster grandparent.

Ms. Calloway was preceded in death by her husband, Flarzell Calloway, her mother and father, Espy Patmon and Minnie L. Wilburn, her sister, Annie M. Turner, her brother, Freddie Diggs, and by her daughter, Amey Jean Calloway Thomas.

Ms. Calloway is survived by 2 sons, Willie (Betty) Calloway, Dothan and Freddie (Yvonne) Calloway, Dothan; 4 daughters, Ruth Calloway, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Shirley (Charlie) Hardge, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Lessie Calloway, Dothan, and Mattie Calloway, Midland City; 25 grandchildren and 78 great-grandchildren; her best friend, Johnnie Borgart; a host of other relatives and friends.