Madelyn Dunham Remembered Not by Death, but the Life She Gave to Others

Barack Obama's Grandmother Has Died

According to reports from the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun, Madelyn Dunham, the beloved grandmother of Barack Obama has passed away at the age of 87. She had been ill, causing Obama to recently suspend campaign activities to visit with her for a couple days. He has since resumed campaigning and received the news of her death at about 8 am Monday Nov 3, a few hours after her passing.

The Barack Obama campaign released a statement in the name of Barack and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, on November 3^rd regarding the death (and life) of Madelyn Dunham. "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility," read a portion of the statement.

Madelyn Dunham raised Barack for a good portion of his life and is a large part of who he is today. Many, especially the family of Barack Obama, were hoping she would at least live to see the election results. She died only one day before Election Day 2008.

Madelyn Dunham is affectionately known to Barack, Michelle, and the Obama kids as "Toots" or "Tu," derived from the Hawaiian name for grandparent. "Barry" is her nickname for Barack, who was raised by her for a greater portion of his childhood.

In his book "The Audacity of Hope," Barack Obama describes his adolescent years living with his maternal grandparents in Hawaii. During this time, his mother, the late Ann Dunham, resided in Indonesia. According to Barack, his grandfather, Stanley Dunham, was distant and removed. Obama also mentioned that Grandma Toots Dunham demonstrated "dogged practicality that kept the family afloat."

Madelyn and Stanley eloped shortly before Dec. 7, 1941, the date of the Pearl Harbor attack. Stanley enlisted right afterward. While in the service, Ann Dunham, Barack's mother, was born. Madelyn worked on an assembly line for bomber planes while family helped to care for the baby.

The couple eventually moved to Hawaii with young Ann because Stanley had a job opportunity there to work as a furniture salesman. This is where they stayed and the reason Barack Obama eventually was born in Hawaii.