Ellen "Holly" Markham

Ellen Sybil (Holly) Markham passed away at home on September 6th, 2023 after a long illness.  She was born on December 30, 1946 in Milwaukee, WI, the daughter of James Morris Markham and Mary Paul Markham.  The family lived for awhile in Milwaukee and then moved to Hemlock Farms in Lords Valley, PA.

After graduating from high school at Emma Willard, Troy, N.Y., Holly received her college degree from Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA.  With a strong desire to care for others, Holly went on to receive a degree from Boston College as a Nurse Practitioner.  Thereafter, she worked in AIDS clinics in New York City, Boston and Washington DC.  She helped establish one of the first free AIDS clinics in Boston and DC.  During this time, Holly loved to travel internationally to visit her brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Stefi Markham, wherever Jim was posted as a New York Times foreign correspondent.

Several years after marrying Michael Smith in 1986, they moved to Madison and bought a Frank Riley house in Shorewood Hills.  Holly poured her heart and soul into remodeling and redecorating her home, working to pull out its Art Deco features.  When Holly’s children, Graham and Charlotte, were young, she served as co-chair of a Welcome Committee for international students and their families who were entering Shorewood Hills Elementary school.  The committee sought to provide practical information and make the families of international students feel welcome. Holly also spearheaded international potluck dinners at the Eagle Heights Community Center.  Demonstrating respect and ensuring families felt welcome held immense significance for her.  Holly also chaired the Scholastic Book Fair committee at Shorewood Elementary for several years.

Holly was one of the first two members of the Shorewood Hills Book Buddies.  Friends in the book group remember her as a wonderful book club member due to her insights, quick wit, world knowledge, massive vocabulary, desire to learn, keen perspectives, empathy and intellect.  She read voraciously and broadly. 

Holly had a keen interest in politics, and was always quick to add her voice to a political issue or candidate she supported.  She canvassed neighborhoods, proudly wore buttons, put up yard signs, and spoke with conviction about what she felt was right and true.  She was ready to use her voice to make the world a better place.

In recent years, Holly started her own business offering home health care and medical support.  Her lived values were represented by the love and care she provided to Dr. Virginia Henderson as part of her care team in the last years of Virginia’s life.  Following Virginia’s death, Holly proposed that a public school in Madison be named in her honor.  Her leadership and passion contributed to Glendale Elementary School being renamed the Dr. Virginia Henderson Elementary School.

Holly was the kind of friend who always expressed her appreciation of others .  After being with her, you always felt seen, heard and a little bit smarter.  She created space to listen to friends and to offer solutions in a gentle way.  Mindfulness meditation and the solace of the Eucharist at Luther Memorial Church were things she cherished.  One friend remembers admiring Holly’s persistence.  Her love of her children was as vast as the ocean and sky together, and she left no stone unturned in pursuit of their wellbeing. 

Holly is survived by her children, Graham Markham Smith and Charlotte Kaufman Smith, sister-in law Stephanie Reed Hastings, nephew Samuel Reed Markham, niece Katharine (Tinka) Markham Piper, and cousins Sue Graff Tripp, Caroline and Lisa Markham, Sara Lee Hinckley and dear friend Jim Flinsch.  She was preceded in death by her parents, beloved brother James M. Markham and former husband Michael Smith.

The family would like to thank Holly’s nurses from BrightStar Care Madison, caregivers from Cornerstone Caregiving, Agrace HospiceCare, as well as many dear friends and Shorewood Hills Book Buddies who cared for Holly these past few years.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. with visitation at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Luther Memorial Church, 1021 University Ave., Madison.  Memorials in Holly’s name may be sent to Luther Memorial or a charity of your choice.