DATE: Thursday, May 29, 1997                TAG: 9705240258

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: THUMBS UP! 

SOURCE: BY KATHRYN DARLING, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   93 lines

BERKLEY'S HERO HAS HER DAY MINNIE MADREY HAS SPENT A LIFETIME WORKING TO BETTER HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

It was Minnie Madrey's day. It wasn't her birthday or an anniversary. It wasn't Christmas or New Year's or the Fourth of July.

It was the day her friends held an appreciation celebration party at the Omni Waterside. Mayor Paul D. Fraim attended to proclaim May 2, as Minnie Gregg Madrey Day in honor of her devotion to Berkley, the city of Norfolk and the United Order of Tents. The proclamation also thanked Madrey, 84, for ``the many wonderful accomplishments she has achieved in her life.''

For decades, Madrey has been an advocate for Berkley and the needs of its residents.

Since the '70s, she has been president of the Berkley Neighborhood Center advisory board. The center is a resource building for health and social services and guidance for the residents of Berkley.

Next to the center is a recreation center and a pool, which Madrey helped to bring into existence for the youth of Berkley. She has worked on the recreation center's board, and has kept the city aware of the need for upkeep and expansion of the Berkley recreation center and pool.

Madrey has also worked to have some of the older Berkley homes restored and other homes razed and replaced with modern townhouses and single-family dwellings.

In the '60s, she was part of the Model City Program started by President Johnson and intended to help redevelop and revitalize inner-city areas.

Her work with the Berkley Neighborhood Center developed out of the program's conclusions.

Councilman Paul Riddick called her a hard worker. ``If we had another 100 Minnie Madreys, a lot of the problems we have in communities today would no longer exist,'' he said.

Horace Downing has worked alongside Madrey for Berkley redevelopment since the model city days of the late '60s.

``Once she gets involved in a program, she doesn't turn it loose until she gets some satisfaction,'' he said.

And she can be demanding.

``If she signs you to a committee, she'll be on your back until you bring a report. Once the committee decides to do something, she'll worry you to death till it's done,'' said Downing.

Madrey is also a frequent visitor to City Council meetings.

``She even has a special seat. First seat, third row over by the windows,'' said Fraim. She said Mayor Roy Martin gave her that seat.

``Minnie has been a friend and adviser to every Norfolk city mayor since Roy Martin and she's one of the more respected community leaders in the city,'' Fraim said.

Madrey hasn't limited her service work to Berkley.

In 1939 she joined the United Order of the Tents, a Christian fraternal benevolent organization managed predominately by black women. Organized by ex-slaves, Annetta M. Lane of Norfolk and Harriet R. Taylor of Hampton, it was created to provide shelter and service to people unable to care for themselves. For years, Madrey served as vice president of the national organization.

The Southern District 1, which Madrey belongs to, has operated Rest Haven Home for Adults for 99 years.

The national organization has provided services to minority communities of the Southeastern United States and serves as a clearing house to raise funds and distribute them to nonprofit organizations.

Madrey has not only served in an administrative capacity, she has mentored many of the younger women entering the organization. One of those, Ethel J. Jones, and Helen M. Ward, a member of The United Order of Tents, organized the Minnie Madrey celebration at the Omni.

``She needed this. She has done so much for the organization and the city,'' said Jones.

Madrey plans to continue her community service both with the United Order of Tents and for the Berkley community.

She doesn't even own a car, but she's working with the city to get off-street parking for the women who attend meetings at the United Order of Tents building on Church Street. And she'd like to turn the vacant lot on the other side of the building into an addition to the Tents building to serve as a historical room.

Madrey, who is historian of the organization, wants to preserve the work and commitment of the women who have served their communities for 130 years.

And she still has big plans for Berkley. She wants to get a larger pool, an addition to the recreation center and more accessible social services for the residents, especially the senior citizens.

In September, Berkley is having a reunion for anyone who once lived or went to school there. Madrey is determined to make the reunion a success. She wants to develop pride in the community and have people see what good things have been done and what can be done for the next generation.

``It's important to get things for an unborn generation. If we get these things now and train them up, then they will take our place in the community,'' Madrey said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON

Minnie Madrey received the honor of the tents and a proclamation

from the mayor at her celebration.

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