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Home My WebLink About07-2024 Honoring Mr. Maxie D. Bolden Sr.SPECIAL PROCLAMATION NO. 07-2024 A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION AWARDED BY SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCILMAN DR. OLIVER DAVIS, AT -LARGE, AND COUNCILWOMAN KAREN L. WHITE, AT -LARGE HONORING MR. MAXIE D. BOLDEN SR. Mr. Maxie D. Bolden Sr. "A LIFE TO BE HONORED" LET IT BE KNOWN THAT 'The Steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and delighted in his way." Psalm 17: 23 6-1, on February 23, 1935, Jefferson and Peoria Bolden became the parents of a baby boy, who they named Maxie D. Bolden. He was their third (3rd) child and second (2"d) son. Maxie was born in Lee County, Arkansas where he grew up and attended public schools. This county in Arkansas was named for General Robert E. Lee, who served as General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States during the American Civil War. This area of the Delta was developed largely for cotton as a commodity crop before the Civil War, based on the labor of enslaved African Americans. It continued as an important crop into the 20th century, when it was worked by African -American sharecroppers and tenant farmers. In the post -Reconstruction era, whites struggled to re-establish white supremacy, by violence and intimidation of African American Republican Party voters in this area and throughout the South. At the turn of the century, the state legislature passed measures that effectively disenfranchised most African Americans for decades. The Equal Justice Initiative reported in 2015 that this county, Lee County, had fifteen (15) lynchings of African Americans from 1877 to 1950,1-2 most in the decades near the turn of the 20th century. This was the third (3`d)-highest of any county in the state of Arkansas.v;and OXIComad, Maxie Sr.'s father was a farmer and Maxie Sr. learned the skills of farming early in his life. He chopped cotton during the growing season and picked cotton during the harvest. As he grew his farming skills grew. He did tilling with the tractors and farm equipment in the spring and summer. In the fall, he drove the tractor pulling a trailer full of cotton. Ginning was done at night. He liked farming, but did not see a future in it as an adult. So, he started thinking about relocating to another state where he could make a living; and Oliin 1953, Maxie Sr. met Ruth Young, who is also from Arkansas. They dated for two (2) and half years and on June 19, 1955, they were united in holy matrimony at the house of Rev. S.M. Peals. Their marriage was attended by Ruth's mother - Alberta Young, Maxie's grandmother, Mary Thomas, his father Jeff Bolden and his sister Lessie B, Bolden. Maxie & Ruth agreed they wanted a better life than cotton farming could give them. So, Maxie Sr. headed north to South Bend, Indiana where his brother Alfred Bolden lived. His bride - Ruth Bolden, remained in Arkansas until Maxie saved enough money to send for her. The Indiana Toll Road was being built at the time Maxie Sr. arrived in South Bend. Maxie Sr. was hired as a flagman, 1865 directing traffic around the workers. Maxie Sr. sent for Ruth after receiving his first paycheck; and OXimmat Maxie Sr. was a hard worker and always worked to improve the living conditions of his family. Maxie Sr. achieved his career goal of becoming a Journeyman Bricklayer. Maxie sharpened his skills as a bricklayer and expanded his knowledge on construction. He eventually became a foreman and a superintendent on several jobs in South Bend, as well in other cities in Indiana. Some of the most notable structures that Maxie Sr, who was a foreman, were; the expansion of the Notre Dame Football Stadium, the US Post Office in South Bend, Greater St. John, and the addition to St. Paul Bethel Missionary Baptist Church and the Notre Dame Marquee; and 4,Maxie Sr. was raised to believe in God and our Savior Jesus Christ. He confessed his • acceptance of Jesus Christ to the Church at a young age and lived his confession by doing the work of the church. During the nearly sixty-nine (69) years of membership at the church of St. Paul Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in South Bend, Indiana, he served as a trustee and for thirty (30) years he was the church treasurer. He also sang in the church choir for more than six (6) decades. His work on the District and State level was with the Northwest Indiana District Missionary Baptist Association (NIDMBA). He attended National Conventions that were held from coast to coast throughout the years. Dear to his heart was the DeCatur, Michigan campground owned by NIDMBA. He gave sweat equity and money toward its upkeep; and G}J, Maxie Sr. was a faithful member of the Masons. On June 15, 1982, Maxie Sr. went through the Mason's Entered Apprentice Degree initiation ceremony. He continued his journey in the Masons to achieve Fellow Craft. Maxie Sr. achieved Master Mason September 26, 1982. He achieved Honorary Past Master, February 3, 2015; and OX�iwara4, Maxie Sr. realized the importance of education and began to take adult education classes where he qualified for his GED. He and his wife Ruth wanted their children to be educated. So, they encouraged all five (5) of their children to get a college education. All five (5) children attended college. The children became a businessman, a pharmacist, an officer in the US Marines, two school teachers, a counselor and a school principal. Maxie Sr., was very proud of his children and Ruth is comforted that they will continue Maxie Sr.'s legacy; and 4Ximpass, on November 7, 2023, Maxie was overjoyed to witness his daughter and our colleague, Councilwoman Sherry L. Bolden -Simpson, win her historic victory in the South Bend Common Council District number five (5). God blessed him to witness her inauguration to the South Bend Common Council on January 1, 2024; and 4X those who preceded Maxie in death were his parents, Jefferson Bolden and Peoria • Bolden. Four (4) siblings - Alfred Bolden, Jeffrey Mae Bolden -Brown, Lessie B. Bolden -Kenny and baby sister, Cora Lee Bolden. Children - Joyce Marie Bolden, and Willie James Bright. One grandson - Dr. Marques L. Bolden. One great-grandson - Maxie Bolden IV. Wero on I. It is our distinct honor to publicly commend and honor the life and service of Mr. Maxie D. Bolden, Sr. We join his family in celebrating his Legacy of Love: His wife of nearly sixty-nine (69) years - Ruth Nadiene Bolden, his children - Lionel Bolden (wife Cindy), Maxie Duane Bolden (wife Constance) Hebert Bolden (wife Uscilla), Sherry L. Bolden -Simpson (husband Ronald Simpson), Kasi Bolden (fiance' Bryant Milon). Thirteen (13) grandchildren - Maxie Bolden III, Brittney Bolden, Mychal Bolden, Myles Bolden, Staci Shea (husband Steve), Stephanie Ford (husband Joe), Shannon Nelson (husband Travis), Brandon Simpson, Leonard Jor- el Simpson (fiancee Staci Unger), Harry Simpson, Sidney Bolden, Cameron Rodgers, Hollin Hart (husband Tony Jr.). Maxie had nineteen (19) great-grandchildren and one (1) great -great grandchild - Markayla Nichols. Maxie's siblings - Eudora Bolden, Charlie Bolden (wife Virginia), William Bolden (wife Renee), Allean Lyas (husband Melvin) Vernell Brandon (husband Robert), Shirley Mann (husband Joe), Joyce Lee, Alvia Hilliard (husband James), Lloyd Bolden, Winifred L Bolden, Yvonne Bolden, Phoenix Bernard Bolden, Glenda Blake (husband Sedrick Sr.), a host of nieces and nephews whom he looked upon as his grandchildren, his St. Paul Bethel Missionary Baptist Church family, and his Masonic brothers. (ron II. We rejoice in the Celebration of Life of Mr. Maxie D. Bolden Sr., by expressing the words of Paul, which are found in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, that summarizes his life here on Earth, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. *nada city yig14# 2o, & (yA.a. v 1, Councilman Dr. Oliver Davis, At -Large South Bend Common Council Karen L. White, At- Large South Bend Common Council