Maxine Montague Maye

Maxine Montague Maye, 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on December 6, 2025, at her sister’s home in Potomac, Maryland. Maxine, born on September 8, 1947, to Hattie Montague Maye and father Wortha Maye (adoptive father) in Washington, D.C., where she lived most of her life.

After Maxine graduated from McKinley Tech High School, she went on to study at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

She had an infectious smile, a boisterous laugh and a huge heart filled with love, and a true spirit of adventure. She led Girl Scout troops and worked with troubled children and teens her whole life. She was a mentor to many known fondly as Mama Maxine or Ms. Maye.

Though she had no children of her own, she touched hundreds of young lives on a daily basis. She lived her life to the fullest extent, the way she wanted to, and never looked back.

Maxine was a faithful employee of the Federal Government and the DC Government Public Libraries. She loved passing on her love for books to her nieces and nephews. She worked tirelessly with the adult illiteracy program where her patience and love of teaching others shined bright. She loved to travel, especially to the Caribbean. She loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her family and those in need.

As a sister, her love was profound.

As an aunt, Maxine’s unwavering support and dedication were a guiding light for her nieces and nephews. Her high standards will continue to inspire them, ensuring her legacy lives on. Her devotion to them was unwavering and the love she poured on them was unconditional.

As a cousin and a friend, her illuminating spirit gathered the best of the best. Friends will remember her immense knowledge of D.C.’s history and stories she would share. Her memory was very long and detailed, filled with random facts about places and events long forgotten about around the city.

She was predeceased by her parents, Hattie and Wortha Maye; and her brother, Myron Maye. She is survived by her sister, Delphine Harriston, and brother Darryl Maye (Stephanie) and her nieces (Nikia Harriston, Shondell Foster (Shamar) and Kelly Maye; her nephew Brandon Maye; great nieces and nephew Gabrielle Harriston, Tahliya Lewis, and Isaiah Foster, and a host of cousins.

She fought the good fight and left knowing how loved she was by her family and friends. Maxine has left her pride, power, love of knowledge, and feisty spirit behind for all of us to continue to grow and shine.

May she continue to rest in eternal peace.

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