Maxine A. King

Maxine Andrea King was born July 1, 1963 in Kingston, Jamaica to Lydia Williams and Winston Daley. As a child Maxine was affectionately nicknamed “Momma”. She did everything early including walking by the time she was 7 months old. She was an extremely brilliant and outspoken child who was reading the newspaper and doing math by the time she was 3.

On March 29, 1974 at the age of 10 ½  Maxine migrated to the United States, where she lived in the Bronx, New York. This transition wasn’t easy for her but she excelled in school and became very popular.

During her teenage years Maxine attended Julia Richman High School in Manhattan and then Walton High School in the Bronx where she met her first love and father of her two oldest children Kevin Slay (deceased).

In 1998, while being a full-time mother Maxine began to pursue her calling in the field of criminal justice. She got her start as a Peer Educator and then an Administrative Assistant in the Fortune Society’s Court Advocacy Unit. She would then go on to be a Substance Abuse Counselor at the Young Mother’s Program in the Bronx and then at the St. John’s Riverside Hospital shelter sites in Mt. Vernon. She also enrolled in school and earned her Bachelor’s degree from the College of New Rochelle in 2004.

In 2007 Maxine held the title as Outreach Coordinator for WORTH, Women On the Rise Telling HerStory. She personally developed the non-profits resource manual which identified services in the community for formerly incarcerated women returning home from incarceration. A few years later she became a Peer Leader with the Correctional Association of New York. Here she would co-facilitate weekly workshops for formerly incarcerated women. She conducted presentations and panel discussions to educate the community about the issues that have an impact on women returning to their communities.

After committing many hours to education and training, Maxine became a certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor in 2008.

Maxine was elected and gracefully served as the President of the Alumni Association at Greenhope’s Services for Women, Inc. in East Harlem from 2008 to 2009. She was extremely instrumental in empowering the women around her to feel motivated to change their lives and become productive members of society.

Her work gained her quite impressive notoriety in the advocacy community. She was presented with numerous awards over the years. The Coalition for Women Prisoners – Advocacy and Community Award (2008), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. – Moving From Trauma to Triumph Award (2010), North Star Fund – Frederick Douglass Award for Advocacy (2010), Citizens Against Recidivism Inc. – Glenn Martin Advocate of the Year Award (2011).

Maxine’s life was not without its share of trials and tribulations however she always bounced back in the face of adversity. She was the true definition of fall down seven times, stand up eight. Her children were her biggest motivation. Maxine had an infectious smile that brightened any room that she walked in. The unconditional love and generosity that she showered on her family and friends will never be forgotten and will surely be missed. Later on in her life Maxine adopted the nickname “Momma Max” because she really was like a second mother to so many that she came in contact with. Maxine was known to spread joy and laughter with her bluntness and beautiful personality, always give great advice, drop jewels and advocate for those in need. Her spirit was undeniably unique and truly one of a kind.

Maxine departed from this world on February 27, 2022.  During her time with us she touched many peoples lives through her extensive work as an advocate, counselor and simply a friend to many. She took great pride in being a loving mother and grandmother.  Maxine leaves to mourn: her husband Andrew, her parents Lydia and Winston, her sisters Marsha and Elaine, her brothers Earlington, Wayne and Wade, her children Kevin Jr., Kalia, Kaliph, Kalisha, Ahmed, Ali and Charles and her grandchildren Mylia, Emani, Kevin, Kayden, Royalty and Kash.

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