Margaret Elaine Wedding

Margaret Elaine Wedding of Indian Head, MD passed away on June 5, 2015 in her home surrounded by family and friends. She was 83 years young. Born July 19, 1931 in Spartanburg, SC, she was the daughter of William Earle and Edna Barnett Hendrix. She spent her childhood in the south with early pleasant memories. She was a member of the Brownie’s and was a Girl Scout. She was also a member of the original Mickey Mouse Club. As a young girl she attended the Helen Attaway School of Dance, sang on the radio and perform on stage at the State Theater. After losing her parents at an early age she moved to Union Mills, NC, where she attended Alexander School. She was a right guard on the Wolverines Basketball Team, #13. She graduated early at age of 16 in 1947 and immediately enrolled in the Rutherford School of Nursing. In 1949 she joined Casualty Hospital as an Emergency Room nurse and spent the next 11 years working and continuing her studies in nursing eventually receiving a Bachelor of Science. She was an active member of the Maryland Emergency Medical Services and along with her husband William “Bill”, served for over 45 years. She is quoted to say: “I have loved the opportunity to be in a position to try and help others. I have been extremely blessed by every encounter I’ve had over the many years serving my community.” In May of 1997, at the age of 66, she graduated from the Charles County Community College with the first Associate Applied Science Degree in Emergency Medical Services. In June 1999 she was awarded the “Josiah A. Hunt, M.D. Award”. The award is the highest award conferred on an individual within the Maryland Emergency Medical Services Community. In June 2000 she was awarded the “Chesapeake Society of Fire and Rescue Instructors Frances L. Brannigan Instructor of the Year Award”. In 2009, the MICU established the “Elaine Wedding (Rookie of the Year) Award” and the first recipient was Chris Hollingsworth. On November 8, 2014 the Medic Unit recognized her decades of service at the new Building Dedication Ceremony where family, friends, volunteers, paramedics, and Government officials gathered at the station, established in 1978, to honor her. She was quoted to say, “I wanted to contribute, I wanted to be somebody. To account and say, where can I help? Give me something to do.” She was very passionate and protective of the Charles County Mobile Intensive Care Unit, where she was a founding and charter member. In the spring of 2015, she completed studies to retain her paramedic certification and was the oldest paramedic in Maryland, both State and National. Beloved by family, friends, co-workers, students, and acquaintances, she was know as “Mitzie”, “Miss EMS”, “Mama”, or simply “Grammy”. Predeceased by both parents, 2 brothers, William Earle and Charles Norwood, and 1 son, David Lee; she is survived by her lifetime partner, friend, and husband, William “Bill” Wedding, her brother Richard Wayne Hendrix, 5 children (Ed, Danny, Lynda Janyce, Michael, and Robyn), and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Visitation on Monday, June 8, 2015 from 5PM to 8PM with Fire/EMS and Prayers beginning at 7PM at the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department, 911 Washington Avenue La Plata, MD 20646. Funeral Mass will be offered on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 beginning at 10AM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 201 St. Mary’s Avenue La Plata, MD 20646. Interment to follow at Nanjemoy Baptist Church, 3030 Baptist Church Road Nanjemoy, MD 20662. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Charles County MICU at 10700 Billingsley Road, White Plains, MD 20695, the Nanjemoy Fire Department at 4260 Port Tobacco Road, Nanjemoy MD 20662, the Ironsides Volunteer Rescue Squad at P. O. Box 409 Port Tobacco, MD 20677 and the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department, 911 Washington Avenue La Plata, MD 20646.

Margaret Elaine Wedding

July 19, 1931 - June 5, 2015