Madison Savannah Satterfield was born on December 30, 1998 at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg, VA.  Listening to Madison's fetal heartbeat and looking at sonograms during pregnancy did not prepare her mother, Michelle D. Satterfield, for the elation of really seeing Madison for the first time.  Holding her warm, fragile body in the cold hospital room evoked an immense connection and acute awareness of the awesome responsibility of being a parent.

Madison's loving maternal grandmother, Gail Satterfield, visited them in the hospital.  She drove them home and put her life on hold for a few days to help care for Madison and facilitate Michelle's adjustment to a new normal.  It showed Michelle the lifelong sacrifices mothers make.

While an infant, Madison was officially dedicated to God at St. John Baptist Church in Portsmouth, VA.  Loving witnesses from the Satterfield, Johnson, Earls, Shands, and Hicks families surrounded her.

Madison's bright eyes, gummy then toothy smile, and gentle soul were captivating.  She magnetized the huge extended family that loved and cared for her while Michelle completed her education.  Virginia State University faculty, staff, and students, members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., cadets and cadre of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and members of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Petersburg, VA helped ensure Madison's needs were met.  DeAndrea Neal (deceased), Bernice Williams, Rolette Thweatt (deceased), Sharon Harris, Natasha Smith, Cathy Chavis Williams, Dereda Shands (deceased), Vanessa Wills, Keisha Brown Parker, Suzette Banks, Derek Mountford, and Ramon Moore played significant roles during her infant and toddler years.

When Madison's father, Roy Madison Tatem, Jr., and Michelle introduced Madison to her father's family, her paternal grandmother, Yvonne N. Tatem (deceased) and paternal grandfather, Roy Madison Tatem, Sr., immediately treasured Madison as their legacy.  Big Roy's wife, Elizabeth, was also loving, kind, and generous to Madison.  She truly was Grandma Liz.

Madison gained another grandfather, Bill Adkins (deceased), in 1999 when he married her Grandma Gail.  Her maternal grandfather, Mark Satterfield, Sr., passed away years before Madison's birth.

In August 2002, Timothy Tindall married Madison's mother, Michelle, and pledged before God and witnesses to love and raise Madison as his own daughter.  He kept his promise.

Madison benefited spiritually from her new extended family at Southside Baptist Ministries and its Christian school in Richmond, VA.  Madison enjoyed singing, acting, cheering, playing volleyball, volunteering in the Nursing Home Ministry, and the church nursery.  She definitely had a flair for the dramatic.  Her Sunday School teacher, Melloney Johnson, the Stinson, Carlisle, Cumbo, Redding, and more families than there is space to name, consistently invested in Madison's life.  Mrs. D taught Madison how to read the Word of God for herself.  Her parents and community of believers rejoiced when Madison made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ at Southside Baptist.

As a result of marriage, Madison was extremely blessed to be embraced by Tim's parents, Rev. and Mrs. Nelson Tindall, Sr., as their first grandchild.  She was deeply loved and fervently prayed for by her Granddaddy Nelson, Grandma Gloria, the Tindall, Anderson, and Calvary Hill Baptist Church families.

Madison was overjoyed to be a big sister in November 2004 when Mariah Tindall was born.  Six years apart, Madison sought to protect and comfort Mariah.  She took sibling classes at the hospital anticipating the physical arrival of Mariah.  Madison loved Mariah and Mariah loved Madison.  They shared a room and an unbreakable sisterly bond.

Over the years, Madison developed a closer relationship with her father, Roy.  In August 2011, her last name was changed to Tatem.  Madison moved with her father, Roy, and his wife, Keisha Brown Tatem, to Arizona while they were newlyweds.  She gained a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins from the Tatem, Nixon, and Brown families.

Madison remained especially close to her first cousins, Mark Satterfield III and Makiya Satterfield, as well as her godbrother, Antonio Quincy Robinson, after the move.

In May 2017, Madison graduated from Chandler High School in Arizona.  After graduation, she worked various jobs while pursuing her love of traveling, acting, music, and taking pictures.

Madison passed away in Chandler, Arizona on August 27, 2021.  We do not know why, but we do know who ultimately determined the best date and time for her appointment.  Our infinitely wise, loving, faithful, merciful, sovereign Heavenly Father knew when to take our beloved 22-year-old home.  With tearful eyes, steadfast faith, peace, comfort, and hope that only God can provide, we look forward to seeing how He works this sudden, earth-shattering loss for our good and His glory.

Madison Savannah Tatem will always be in the hearts of her parents, sister, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, godbrother, church family, and friends.

Madison's Funeral Service can be viewed on ZOOM beginning at 12 noon:

Henry W Dabney Funeral Home is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Madison Tatem Funeral Service
Time: Sep 24, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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