Services for David McDonald Maddux, of Springfield, Ill., are 2p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at Ellinger-Kunz & Park Funeral Home inSpringfield, Ill. with graveside services held on Wednesday, Oct.7, at Lakewood Memorial Park Cemetery in Clinton.

Mr. Maddux was born in Brookhaven on July 11, 1923, to MargaretLyons and Thomas Watts Maddux.

He was a graduate of Brookhaven High School and the Universityof Southern Mississippi with a major in journalism. He worked as areporter for the Mobile Press Register, Houston Chronicle, JacksonState Times and Jackson United Press International and was publicrelations director for Central Illinois American HeartAssociation.

Mr. Maddux served in the U.S. Army from 1948-1952. He was alifelong member of the United Methodist Church. He loved ballroomdancing and could “cut a rug” with grace and enthusiasm. He was anavid reader and a collector of oil landscapes. He was a gardenerand enjoyed travel.

As a youth, his family had horses and he broke them to saddle.He was a winner in many spelling bees and a state champion speller.He followed football with great interest since his son was anAll-State player. Brett Favre’s career was closely followed sinceboth were graduates of USM.

Mr. Maddux had a lifelong interest in history, especially theSiege of Vicksburg. He researched his book with many trips toMississippi. He wrote a well-reviewed book, “Beginning atVicksburg.” Copies are in the collection of Mississippi writers inlibraries in Vicksburg, the Jackson Archives, Millsaps College,Brookhaven, Port Gibson and USM.

He was a dear, gentle man, who lived his Christian faith, afaithful servant to his God. He was a creative man, a master ofwriting and he always had a funny quip.

Preceding him in death were his parents; three brothers, Thomas,Jack and Neal; and one sister, June.

Survivors are his wife, Mary White Maddux; his son, Geoff, andwife, Debbra; his grandsons, David and Christopher and wife,Jessica; and his great-granddaughter, Addison, of Navarre, Fla.;and his cousin, Alice Swittenburg, of Jackson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the David M. MadduxJournalism Scholarship. Ellinger-Kunz & Park Funeral Home willreceive the scholarship at 530 N. 5th St., Springfield, IL62702.