Maxine Heard Ludeke

Maxine Heard Ludeke, died in Houston, Texas on 10-29-11. She was a wonderful person loved by all, and like her mother a true southern lady with a display of charm and compassion to all those who knew her. Maxine was born in Huttig, Arkansas on January 9, 1914 to Henry P. Heard and Flora N. Heard. She spent her younger years in Jacksonville, Texas before moving to Dallas and her marriage to S. Alex Cromwell. During the war years in Dallas she and Alex had one daughter, Glenda Kay Cromwell who was born on February 12, 1942. After moving to Houston in the late 1940s she became an active wife, mother and church member in the Garden Oaks area of Houston. From the late 1950s until the early 1970s she worked as a closer for Statewide Title Co., having met her future husband, Warren B. Ludeke, while at Statewide. Warren and Maxine were married on November 26, 1969 and spent many happy and loving years together until the death of Warren on February 2, 2004. Warren and Maxine were fine Christians and were members of the Second Baptist Church in Houston.

Maxine was preceded in death by her father, mother, three sisters and a brother, her first husband, Alex Cromwell, daughter Glenda Cromwell Caldwell, and her husband, Warren Ludeke. A lifelong animal lover, she was also preceded in death by her two dogs Sammy and Brownie. She is survived by her granddaughter Rachel Caldwell Gray and her husband John of Houston; Kim Caldwell of Austin; her great granddaughter Laurynn Emily Zientek and great grandson Matthew Caldwell Gray; son-in-law Bruce J. Caldwell and his wife Susan of Dallas. Maxine is also survived by two sons from Warren’s first marriage as well as Warren’s loving and caring daughter-in-law, Karen Ludeke and his many grandchildren.

The family wants to give special thanks to Ollie Evans and Shirley Dunham for their devotion and care of Maxine in the last year of her life and to Shantele Dunham and Earldene Veals who assisted Ollie and Shirley. Thanks also goes to Karen Hoover, her nurse, and Jim Barclift, chaplain at Houston Hospice; the staff at Terrace of Champions, especially Anita Arrizola, and the staff at Helen’s Care Cottage where she spent the last three months of her life. Lastly, we wish to thank Ovena Vincent who served as companion, caregiver and friend to both Warren and Maxine for many years.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday November 3 at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. Services celebrating Maxine’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday the 4th of November in the chapel of Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials in Maxine’s memo¬ry be directed to the charity of your choice.