Jack Maddex

Jack Pendleton Maddex and his wife, Jacquelin, moved to Orange in 1944. He became a partner with Stanley Jewell, purchasing Grymes Drug Store from John Randolph Grymes. The store was on East Main Street next to the railroad tracks.  

Jack Maddex wrote “…when we came to Orange, the Jewells and the Maddexs were warmly received by the members of the Orange Presbyterian Church. Dr. Holladay, and his daughter Louise, had both of our families for Sunday dinner and all the members encouraged us to become active in the church.  We were probably among the youngest married couples in the church at that time.”

Mr. Maddex was active in the community and served as Elder and Deacon in OPC.  He wrote, “They did not operate on any kind of budget in those days. If more money was needed, they simply passed the word around. It was during Ed Pickard’s ministry, (1949-1954), that we began to have pledges and a budget.”

In the late 40’s, OPC purchased Miss Rita Graham’s home next door to the church.  “By an arrangement with Miss Graham, we were allowed to build the Sunday School building on the back of her lot and her house was allowed to stand. We paid her a monthly payment for life..(I think $125.00). At her death, the property would be ours. She lived quite a while and I think we paid about $12,000 over the years for the property. I may be mistaken, but I think one member of our church paid one-half the monthly payment and the church paid the other half,” wrote Mr. Maddex.

“In the early 50’s, we built the Sunday School building for about $53,000.00. It was a big financial undertaking,” he continues, “but it was paid off ahead of time. We had a drive to raise money for it. Mr. Grey Moore, (Goodwin’s father) was a deacon at this time and was active in raising the money.” 

Jack enjoyed golf, travel, and square dancing, but his foremost hobby was gardening. He and other businessmen developed Greenfields as a residential area. Mr. Maddex had a nurturing love for his family, neighbors and friends. 

Jacquelin, known to all as “Jackie”, was a wonderful and warm person who was also very active in OPC. She was part of the Women of the Church and believed to be the first woman to serve as Elder. If only someone could entertain us with stories of the lunches the Women of the Church served at the local cattle sales as it seems the church “made lots of money”.   

The Maddexs moved to Sunnyside Retirement Community in Harrisonburg in 1988. He became an active member of First Presbyterian Church and volunteered at the Massanetta Springs and Conference Center. 

Mr. Maddex passed away in 2009 at the age of 95 and is buried with “Jackie”, who passed away in 2013, in Graham Cemetery in Orange, VA.

 - Jennie Hill Robinson
OPC History Team

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