Biography: Maxine Lorraine Bedford was born on October 5, 1937 in Norfolk, Virginia to the late Lorenzo Bowden and Ernestine Brinkley-Bowden. She was educated in the Norfolk school system, but graduated from Central Commercial High School (now named Norman Thomas H.S.) when she moved to Harlem, New York. After she graduated she worked for Boys Scouts of America. She also worked at Byrd S. Coler Hospital for many years and then got promoted to work in the Payroll Department of Health Hospital Corporation where she retired.
In September of 1955, she met the love of her life Charlie Bedford. After three years of courtship, they were united in holy matrimony on February 8, 1958 and were married 51 years. To this union were five children Marcella, the twins Charlene and Chris, Charles and Rodney.
Maxine accepted Christ at an early age. When she moved to New York City, she attended Bethany Baptist Church in Harlem, NY. In the early 1970s, she attended and joined the Community Church of Astoria in Astoria, NY. She was an active and devoted member of Senior Choir (Inspirational Choir), Building Fund (Kingdom Builders), the Missionary Board, the Women Ministry, Bible Study and Sunday School.
Maxine was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend. She loved going shopping with the family and loved seafood especially her crabs. She was known for some of her famous sayings which were “Hey Boo,” “Pull your pants up,” and “Your dress is too tight or short.” Maxine was a fighter during all her illnesses when she went into a diabetic coma and doing dialysis for over four years but she never gave up.
Proceeding in death was her husband Charlie and her sister Elaine Reed. She leaves to celebrate her life her two daughters Marcella Crawford, Astoria, NY, Charlene (Donnell) Wilder, Newport News, Virginia, three sons Chris (Dorrien) Bedford, Astoria, NY, Charles (Deborah) Bedford, Astoria, NY, Rodney (Yvette) Bedford, Bristow, VA. Nineteen grandchildren Syreeta (Keith), Nathaniel, Tianna (Jason), Joe, Shanteaal, Shekiah, Cashmeir (Xavier), Jamel, Chastity, Chazz, T’Kara, Hezekiah, Nakia, Chloe, Isaiah, and Jordan and nine great grandchildren Ryann, Melody, Mia, Madeleine, Jalaya, Taylor, Joshua, Isaiah and Zion. Four sister in laws and three brother in laws, Beatrice Hancock, Bronx, NY, William (Terri) Bedford, Wappinger Falls, NY, Barbara (Russell) Young, Brooklyn, NY, Alfred (Bernadette) Bedford, Amityville, NY, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted children, church family and many, many friends.
Submitted with Love the Family
