Marlene J Butler

On Oct 10, 1952, after her mother’s mad dash from the home of her parents Melvin and Eva Maiden in Dahlgren to Fredericksburg, VA, the sassy and beautiful Marlene Jane was born. She spent the next 18 months wrapping her momma, Melvine Maiden Butler, and her daddy, Thomas Butler, around her little finger, then welcomed her sister Thomasene to the family.

Marlene grew up in Washington, DC, under the watchful eyes of her maternal aunties: Verlette Maiden Taylor, Celestine “Teen” Maiden Jordon, Frances “Shirley”Maiden O’Brien, and Itelia “Pudding” Maiden Walker and her great-aunts: Catherine Moore and Rosetta Frazier.

She attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grammar School and Academy of Our Lady High School. After graduating, Marlene worked full-time as a Training Coordinator for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She later entered the Hospitality Industry and fully retired in 2018.

Her marriage to Maurice Walker produced her one and only child, Sharif Talib Walker. Mom and Son shared a unique bond. While he was still in her womb, Marlene knew Sharif would embrace physical fitness since he spent months kick boxing and jumping rope using the umbilical cord.

Marlene had been baptized in the Catholic Church but joined Allen Chapel AME Church in her later years. Marlene was a lifetime member of the Ralph Bunche Alumni Association and always helped without any complaints. As an avid baker, the Association benefited from her delicious pound and pineapple upside down cakes.

Marlene will always be cherished by her son Sharif and her grandson Jaylen, her devoted sister Thomasene Butler-Kelly (Ron), nephew Antwan Epps (Susan), great niece Monica Lauren Kibler, bonus nephew Ron Kelly (Denise), and bonus great niece Maria Cecelia Kelly, and aunts: Itelia “Pudding” Walker and Rosetta Frazier. She will be missed by her cousins, including Ernestine Jefferson (Kelly), Claudette Jordon, Melvin O’Brien, Nicole Walker (Terrance), Danna Walker, Troy (Akisha) Jefferson, Theodore Moore, Wendell Moore; Norman Frazier, Ronald Frazier, Donna Preston, and Donica Butler.

During her last nine months, Marlene reunited with a childhood friend, Michael Everett, who protected her, cared for her, and will greatly miss her. Marlene left this world in the same way she entered it—sassy and beautiful.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the following organizations: 

https://www.rbaa1949.org/in-memoriam/marlene-butler/ or https://www.alz.org/