Dr. Elton Preston Maddox, Jr., 68 of Salisbury, Maryland, passed away, March 12, 2015 at Gilchrist Hospice Center after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Tony, (as he was known) was born November 17, 1946 to the late Elton and Virginia Maddox. He was a 1964 Valedictorian of Woodson High School, Crisfield, Maryland. He was an honors graduate of both Morgan State University and the University Of Maryland School Of Dentistry, where he was the first African American to complete the four-year Doctoral Program in 1972.
After graduation, Dr. Maddox served for two years as the Clinical Director of the TEAM program and three years as Assistant Professor at the Dental School for three years; before returning to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, to begin his private practice in 1977. In Addition, he continued to pursue an interest in Forensic Dentistry Consulting. He was a member of the American Dental Association, The Maryland State Dental Association, and a proud member of the Eastern Shore Dental Society, where he was president from 1992-1993.
He was the recipient of many honors and awards, including his selection as (Who’s Who among Students in American colleges and Universities, Distinguished Military graduate (Morgan State University, 1968), Gamma Pi Delta Honor Society, 1970-1972), Timothy O. Heatwole Memorial Chair, 1972, and Outstanding Young Man of America, 1975. (University Of Maryland School of Dentistry.)
Dr. Maddox was involved in many community activities, through membership in his beloved Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., N.A.A.C.P, M.I.S.T.E.R. (Men Inspiring Students to Enjoy Reading), to name a few. He was also a devoted member of the Waters Chapel U.M. Church in Kingston. He also loved auto racing, traveling and playing tennis.
After celebrating 31 years at his Salisbury, Maryland, dental practice, he merged the business with Dr. Kathleen Geipe in March 2012, allowing him to pursue other interests and spend more time with family and friends.
Dr. Maddox, who was loved and respected by his fiancée, his family, his patients and loyal friends, touched many lives with his sound advice, quick wit and humor, as well as his compassion, generosity and positive outlook on life.
To cherish his memory, Dr. Maddox is survived by his fiancée, Dr. Carol Steffy of Salisbury, Maryland; sister, Barbara Jean (Jim) of Burke, Virginia; brother, Michael (Gwen) of Catonsville, Maryland; sister, Anita (Everett) of Catonsville, Maryland; brother, Scott (Debbie) of Marion, Maryland; four nieces, two nephews, and a host of other relatives and dear friends.
A Memorial Service will be held 12 Noon Friday, March 20, 2015 at Wesley Temple United Methodist Church, 1322 West Road in Salisbury, Maryland. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until 11:45 AM. Pastor Frances Fitchett will be the Eulogist. Ceremonial rites will be performed by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at 11:45 AM.
In lieu of flowers, send contributions to Morgan State University Foundation, for Dr. Elton P. Maddox, Jr. Scholarship Fund. MSU Foundation, 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane, 201Truth Hall, Baltimore, MD 21251. Online at www.givetomorgan.com”. Choose “Other”, and enter “Dr. Elton P.Maddox, Jr. Scholarship Fund.”
16 Responses
My thoughts and prayers go out to those whose lives were touched by Tony. While I will not be able to attend the services, I will forever keep the memory of Tony in my heart.
With Love,
John
Dr. Maddox was my very first dentist. He had a sign in his office that said ” Ignore your teeth, they’ll go away”. It made me laugh. I can’t believe he is gone. Thank you for sharing him with us.
My thought and prayers are with Carol and his family. Dr. Maddox was a wonderful, kind, gentle person. I had the privilege to work with him. I am a better person for having known him. You will be missed. You are loved.
With heart felt sympathy,
Donna Ervin
I had the privilege of working with Dr. Maddox for 3 years. I never heard him speak unkindly of anyone. He was a gentle, loving spirit who put his patients before himself. My heart goes out to Carol for the huge loss this is to her. I am a richer person for having known him & I will miss his light & the talks I shared with him. Godspeed, Dr. Maddox. Your suffering is over & you may now rest with our Lord.
The world was a better place because Tony was in it. I will dearly miss his warm smile and kind and caring thoughts. Tony, you are loved and missed,
Julia Webster
Rest In Peace, Tony.
You were a wonderful man and an excellent dentist.
Your death is a major loss to our community.
God Bless You.
Lee
So very sorry to learn about Tony… I have been a hygienist in MD for 45 years and our paths crossed many times…he was of particular help to me getting the dental assisting course established at WorWic in the 80’s….his photo is exactly how I remember him…always smiling that beautiful smile,,,God blessed him with healing hands and now he is at rest for all his good works….
Dr. Tony was, at one time, my neighbor. He always had a smile on his face and a kind word to say. I don’t think a Saturday ever passed without seeing him in his yard washing his car. My condolences go to his family and to Carol. He will truly be missed. May the fond memories you have of Dr. Tony be of comfort to all of you.
Tony was one of the finest people I ever met. He was our family dentist since 1980 and many times he went far out of his way to make sure everyone was all right. We are grateful for our friendship with him. What a loss.
Our deepest condolences to the family of Dr. Maddox. We worked with him many years and he always had a smile and kind words. Brad & Donna Smith, Susan Donalds, Melanie Purnell,and Katie Thornton
March 19, 2015 at 5:15p.m.
My Deepest sympathy goes out to the Maddox Family. He was truly a kind and gentle person. He will truly be missed. If I’ve learned anything down through the years, it’s that nothing beautiful in this world is ever really lost. Those we cherish will always live on in memory. We can’t know why some things happen, but we can know that love and beautiful memories outlast the pain of grief.
Ruth A. Jones
Woodson Middle School (Retired Teacher)
Part of what made Tony Maddox a wonderful human being was his combination of expert intelligence and compassion. Whenever asked a question regarding a medical problem related to dental care, Tony always had a natural response that both enlightened with scientific insight and empathy with your particular malady. He felt your pain but guided you toward a reasoned solution that would resolve your pain and discomfort, of course, always with humor, plenty of discomforting jokes that would make you laugh, in spite of your upbringing.
Our community suffers a major loss with his death. May we strive to remember his legacy and gift to us of great dental care, good humor and compassion for us all.
I have known Tony since our high school days. That smile of his was a constant and so refreshing to all who met him. A kind and gentle man, he will be missed. All of us are blessed because we knew him. My sincerest condolences to his family and to his fiancée, Carol.
A truly fabulous, kind and thoughtful person. he will be missed.
Tony and I left the shore for Morgan together. We studied, laughed, and remained friends through the years. I feel blessed to have known him and had him in my life.
My thoughts an prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult period.
Dr. Maddox was a pioneer and he gave so much knowledge and wisdom to everyone he met. I was his first African-American Dental Assistant and perhaps the first African-American Dental Assistant on the Eastern Shore in Wicomico County, Maryland. When I graduated with my degree in Healthcare Administration in June 2014 last year, he sent me a sincere felt card wishing me all the best. I feel blessed to have know him and his family. Dr. Maddox you are missed.