Madeline "Madge" Shriver Franklin passed away peacefully on April 23, 2026, holding her husband's hand and surrounded by loved ones.

Madge was born August 14, 1936, to the late James McSherry Shriver, Sr. and Helen Brogden Shriver of Union Mills, MD. She grew up at Chinquapin Hill, a Shriver family home adjacent to the historic Union Mills Homestead, as the fifth of six children. She attended Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington DC, and she studied nursing at Villa Julie College in Baltimore.

Madge was a devout Catholic and member of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, where she served as a eucharistic minister. In addition to raising her eight children in the church, Madge was committed to serving her community. She was a eucharistic minister at St. Joseph Medical Center, president of the Town and Country Garden Club, president of the Board of Mother Seton House, served on the board for the Friends School of Baltimore, as well as president of the Parents' Association, a chairwoman of the Bridge Committee of the Maryland Historical Society, and managed a Ruxton Little League girls' softball team. Madge was also awarded Woman of the Year by the Maryland State Wrestling Association in 2002.

The door to Madge's house was always open, and far more than her eight children called it home.

Madge was diagnosed with Myositis in 2001, a rare autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and weakness of muscles. She served on the board as secretary of The Myositis Association for many years to help raise money for research. Madge, along with several friends, launched the Myositis Bridge Marathon in her home. As the event grew, it eventually outgrew her home and was relocated to the L'Hirondelle Club of Ruxton, where it continued for several more years. And with the support of family and friends, Madge also helped raise funds for many years with the Miles for Myositis initiative.

Madge was an avid bridge player, a master of needlepoint, and an altruistic giver. She enjoyed watching the birds and animals in her backyard and sharing stories of her youth with her children and grandchildren. She especially loved hugs, and she never let go first.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Haswell M. Franklin; her eight children, Haswell Jr. (Ellen), James (Emma), Ouida Curry (Terrence), Elizabeth Smith (Dexter), William (Heather), Henry (Deborah), Nancy Puleo (Christopher), and Madeline (Kai Gross); twenty-two grandchildren; one soon-to-be-born great-grandchild; and her younger brother, B. Frank Shriver (Janet).

A viewing will take place May 11 at Ruck Funeral Home in Towson from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A Funeral Mass will be held May 12 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Union Mills Homestead Foundation https://unionmills.org/donate/ https://unionmills.org/donate/ 3311 Littlestown Pike, Westminster, MD 21158.