A. Maxine Washington

July 27, 1937 ~ May 14, 2023
A. MAXINE WASHINGTON
July 27, 1936 – May 14, 2023
It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of our dear Maxine Washington. After a prolonged illness she passed quietly in San Antonio, Texas on May 14, 2023. She was born on July 27, 1937, to Mary Jane and Henry Albert Wise in Newton Grove, North Carolina.
Maxine was a loving, caring, nurturing, and generous person devoted to her family and her profession. Maxine dedicated her life to helping others first as a licensed practical nurse then a registered nurse. She met her future husband, Lawrence, in Washington D.C. where she was the LPN taking care of his mother. From this union they had five beautiful children. Maxine, after all her children were in elementary school, enrolled in Howard University School of Nursing where she graduated with honors. She strived for excellence in everything she did. She worked in various healthcare settings focused on counseling and education, as well as administration until her retirement from the Psychiatric Center in Washington, DC. Her compassionate nature extended beyond providing comfort to her patients, but also to their families, who often found solace in her presence during challenging times.
Maxine loved to travel, plan, prepare and host the many celebrations which included military promotions as well as graduations, weddings, birthdays, and holidays. But most of all she loved shopping. Her many travel destinations in Europe, Asia, throughout the United States and Central America were cataloged with the many treasures she acquired during these visits. As the wife of a military officer these attributes were demonstrated with such grace, perfection, and joy. Outside of her professional life, she cherished spending time with her family and friends. She was an impressive cook, loving spouse, parent, sister, and friend, always there to lend a listening ear or offer a helping hand.
Maxine is preceded in death by her parents and seven of her eight siblings. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, COL Lawrence Washington (Ret.); daughters, Dr. Matrice Browne (Vincent) and René Mitchell: sons, Lowell (Cuc), Renauld, and Loren (Maria) Washington; eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren and her loving sister, Mary Bernadette Tolson. Additionally, there are a host of other family members including cousins, nephews, nieces, and very loving and supportive friends. Her presence in the lives of her loved ones will be greatly missed.
Visitation at 1:00 pm followed by Service at 2:00 pm on Monday, June 19, 2023
Money and King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA 22180
For those unable to join in person the service will be livestreamed via the link below.
A private burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery in the Fall.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family.
July 27, 1936 – May 14, 2023
It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of our dear Maxine Washington. After a prolonged illness she passed quietly in San Antonio, Texas on May 14, 2023. She was born on July 27, 1937, to Mary Jane and Henry Albert Wise in Newton Grove, North Carolina.
Maxine was a loving, caring, nurturing, and generous person devoted to her family and her profession. Maxine dedicated her life to helping others first as a licensed practical nurse then a registered nurse. She met her future husband, Lawrence, in Washington D.C. where she was the LPN taking care of his mother. From this union they had five beautiful children. Maxine, after all her children were in elementary school, enrolled in Howard University School of Nursing where she graduated with honors. She strived for excellence in everything she did. She worked in various healthcare settings focused on counseling and education, as well as administration until her retirement from the Psychiatric Center in Washington, DC. Her compassionate nature extended beyond providing comfort to her patients, but also to their families, who often found solace in her presence during challenging times.
Maxine loved to travel, plan, prepare and host the many celebrations which included military promotions as well as graduations, weddings, birthdays, and holidays. But most of all she loved shopping. Her many travel destinations in Europe, Asia, throughout the United States and Central America were cataloged with the many treasures she acquired during these visits. As the wife of a military officer these attributes were demonstrated with such grace, perfection, and joy. Outside of her professional life, she cherished spending time with her family and friends. She was an impressive cook, loving spouse, parent, sister, and friend, always there to lend a listening ear or offer a helping hand.
Maxine is preceded in death by her parents and seven of her eight siblings. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, COL Lawrence Washington (Ret.); daughters, Dr. Matrice Browne (Vincent) and René Mitchell: sons, Lowell (Cuc), Renauld, and Loren (Maria) Washington; eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren and her loving sister, Mary Bernadette Tolson. Additionally, there are a host of other family members including cousins, nephews, nieces, and very loving and supportive friends. Her presence in the lives of her loved ones will be greatly missed.
Visitation at 1:00 pm followed by Service at 2:00 pm on Monday, June 19, 2023
Money and King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA 22180
For those unable to join in person the service will be livestreamed via the link below.
A private burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery in the Fall.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family.
Tributes to Mom
“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother” – Abraham Lincoln
Mom thank you for your unconditional love, for being my favorite travel partner, for teaching me to be strong yet graceful and for being the best role model of the perfect mom, grandmother and great-grandmother. Forever you will be in my heart guiding me on this winding road of life.
Love you always! – Matrice
I wish to share with you all two special dates. The day my Mommy was born and the day she was called to be an angel.
My Mommy was born on July 27, 1937. She was one of eight children. She comes from a large and genuinely good and beautiful family. My grandmother and great-grandmother were beautiful strong women. My mother was a beautiful strong woman as well.
She was wife to an Army Colonel and a mother to five children. She was a college graduate and a very successful health care industry professional and retiree. She was a grand hostess to her children’s and her husband’s events and milestones. She was viewed with favor and respect at home, in her professional life and by her community. She was a role model for her children, a caring mother, who embraced us, comforted each of us from our fears, our woes, as she was truly wise. She has always been and is now our celebrated Mother.
Mommy passed on May 14, 2023, the second date I wish you to remember. As we celebrated Mother’s Day, she was called to lay her deeds on earth to rest. She was an early riser and now I pray she continues to be that early rising and guiding spirit to all and serve God and His plan.
Finally, to my siblings, their children and their grandchildren please have continued faith. His words through the Prophet John 16:22 reads “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” This verse reminds us that, as Christians, death is not final. It gives us hope that we will see each other again on the last day and reunite. Amen
Happy Mother’s Day for all eternity Mommy! – Lowell
“A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” – Maya Angelou
Mom, that is you and how you live serving friends and family and now Angels and your God. This Mother’s Day gift was your final message to us. I see your beauty, graciousness, and love breaking through the clouds, shining onto my heart and the hearts of my siblings, where you will live on eternally – within our hearts. That is why you chose Mother’s Day to depart this world to remind us to celebrate you and that you are closer now than you ever could be physically. It was because your spirit resides now in our memories & our hearts forever. I feel your spiritual presence in my heart each day and sing our songs and dance in joyfulness and in my thoughts of you.
I Love you eternally. – René
Audrey Maxine Washington, My confidante, My critic, My protector, My teacher, My mom.
I will miss your smile, but you will never be missed. You are in my heart and will live in me forever.
– Renauld
My Mother, my heart, my Max.
Your love, your compassion, your faith.
I love you, I miss you, I honor you.
Your unconditional love will continue to guide me.
You watched over me in life and I know you are here still watching over me now. I am not alone! I live each moment in your name… for your way is… “My Way” – Loren
I first met Maxine in Berlin, Germany, September, 1981 when Colonel Washington was Chief Nurse. In the beginning we kept in touch via cards ut when they moved to El Paso our friendship blossom. Maxine became a member of the Links and later nominated me to be part of the organization. Following my retirement, 1994, she agreed to host a party at her beautiful Virginia home.
Every place Maxine lived she was known as an outstanding hostess with exceptional cooking skills. Some of my friends are still talking about this party as the best of their lives. She also demonstrated highest standards of professionalism in nursing. From my perspective Maxine displayed the noble character of a wife according to Proverbs 31.
Faithful Friends, Fran Rettig
So sorry for your loss. Maxine was a beautiful person!
Allen (Butch) & Margaret Turner
To my dear friends, Maxine and Lawrence, and their beautiful family.
Thank you so much for embracing and loving my family during our time in El Paso and San Antonio. I will always remember your kindness, your support, and your unbelievable friendship.
Maxine, thank you so much for being a dear friend, a mentor, role model, confidant, one of the classiest women that I’ve ever known, and such a loving mother and grandmother.
I will always remember the many memories laughing and crying over food, but especially when you set a beautiful table and we ate barbecue on your beautiful linen. You always said things are meant to be used, loved, and remembered.
I will truly miss you, my dear friend. I thank God for the blessing of you in my life.
Mrs. Washington was the consummate surrogate during my stint in El Paso when I was over 2K miles from my biological. She always embodied an unmatched level of maternal perfection. And even now she emits charming reminders of memories that beam thru the hurt of her absence. In God we are friends and I pray to see you again.
Respectfully,
Nate