: HONOLULU (AP) — Barack Obama's grandmother, whose personality and bearing shaped much of the life of the Democratic presidential contender, has died, Obama announced Monday, one day before the election. Madelyn Payne Dunham was 86.
Obama announced the news from the campaign trail in Charlotte, N.C. The joint statement with his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng said Dunham died peacefully late Sunday night after a battle with cancer.
They said: "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances."
Obama learned of her death Monday morning while he was campaigning in Jacksonville, Fla. He planned to go ahead with campaign appearances. The family said a private ceremony would be held later.
Republican John McCain issued condolences to his opponent. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they remember and celebrate the life of someone who had such a profound impact in their lives," the statement by John and Cindy McCain said.
Last month, Obama took a break from campaigning and flew to Hawaii to be with Dunham as her health declined.
Obama said the decision to go to Hawaii was easy to make, telling CBS that he "got there too late" when his mother died of ovarian cancer in 1995 at 53, and wanted to make sure "that I don't make the same mistake twice."
Outside the apartment building where Dunham died, reporters and TV cameras lined the sidewalk as two police officers were posted near the elevator. Signs hanging in the apartment lobby warned the public to keep out.
Longtime family friend Georgia McCauley visited the 10th-floor apartment where Obama had lived with his grandparent.
"So many of us were hoping and praying that his grandmother would have the opportunity to witness her grandson become our next president," said state Rep. Marcus Oshiro, an Obama supporter. "What a bittersweet victory it will be for him. Wow."
The Kansas-born Dunham and her husband, Stanley, raised their grandson for several years so he could attend school in Honolulu while their daughter and her second husband lived overseas. Her influence on Obama's manner and the way he viewed the world was substantial, the candidate himself told millions watching him accept his party's nomination in Denver in August.
"She's the one who taught me about hard work," he said. "She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me."
Obama's nickname for his grandmother was "Toot," a version of the Hawaiian word for grandmother, tutu. Many of his speeches describe her working on a bomber assembly line during World War II.
Madelyn and Stanley Dunham married in 1940, a few weeks before she graduated from high school. Their daughter, Stanley Ann, was born in 1942. After several moves to and from California, Texas, Washington and Kansas, Stanley Dunham's job landed the family in Hawaii.
It was there that Stanley Ann later met and fell in love with Obama's father, a Kenyan named Barack Hussein Obama Sr. They had met in Russian class at the University of Hawaii. Their son was born in August 1961, but the marriage didn't last long. She later married an Indonesian, Lolo Soetoro, another university student she met in Hawaii.
Obama moved to Indonesia with his mother and stepfather at age 6. But in 1971, her mother sent him back to Hawaii to live with her parents. He stayed with the Dunhams until he graduated from high school in 1979.
In his autobiography, Obama wrote fondly of playing basketball on a court below his grandparents' 10th-floor Honolulu apartment, and looking up to see his grandmother watching.
It was the same apartment Obama visited on annual holiday trips to Hawaii, a weeklong vacation from his campaign in August, and his pre-election visit in October. Family members said his grandmother could not travel because of her health.
Madelyn Dunham, who took university classes but to her chagrin never earned a degree, nonetheless rose from a secretarial job at the Bank of Hawaii to become one of the state's first female bank vice presidents.
"Every morning, she woke up at 5 a.m. and changed from the frowsy muumuus she wore around the apartment into a tailored suit and high-heeled pumps," Obama wrote.
After her health took a turn for the worse, her brother said on Oct. 21 that she had already lived long enough to see her "Barry" achieve what she'd wanted for him.
"I think she thinks she was important in raising a fine young man," Charles Payne, 83, said in a brief telephone interview from his Chicago home. "I doubt if it would occur to her that he would go this far this fast. But she's enjoyed watching it."
Stanley Dunham died in 1992, while Obama's mother died in 1995. His father is also deceased.
When Obama was young, he and his grandmother toured the United States by Greyhound bus, stopping at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, Disneyland and Chicago, where Obama would years later settle.
It was an incident during his teenage years that became one of Obama's most vivid memories of Toot. She had been aggressively panhandled by a man and she wanted her husband to take her to work. When Obama asked why, his grandfather said Madelyn Dunham was bothered because the panhandler was black.
The words hit the biracial Obama "like a fist in my stomach," he wrote later. He was sure his grandparents loved him deeply. "And yet," he added, "I knew that men who might easily have been my brothers could still inspire their rawest fears."
Obama referred to the incident again when he addressed race in a speech in March during a controversy over his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. "I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother," he said.
Dunham was "a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world but who once confessed her fear of black men who passed her on the street."
Still, much of who Obama is comes from his grandmother, said his half sister.
"From our grandmother, he gets his pragmatism, his levelheadedness, his ability to stay centered in the eye of the story," she told The Associated Press. "His sensible, no-nonsense (side) is inherited from her."
Madelyn Lee Payne was born to Rolla and Leona Payne in October, 1922, in Peru, Kan., but lived much of her childhood in nearby Augusta.
She was the oldest of four children, and she loved to read everything from James Hilton's "Lost Horizon" to Agatha Christie's "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd."
Dunham and her husband were "vicious" bridge players, according to her brother Jack. After retirement, the two of them would take island cruises and do little but play bridge and a more difficult version called duplicate bridge.
MAY SHE REST IN PEACE OBAMA WILL WIN TOMORROW THE WHOLE WORLD IS READY FOR CHANGE AND FOR A NEW BLACK KING TO BE CROWNED VOTE FOR OBAMA IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO ALREADY TOOT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING INSPIRATION FOR OBAMA WE NEED TO CHERISH AND RESPECT OUR MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS SINCE THEY ARE THE PROTECTORS OF THIS EARTH_WOMEN NEED MORE RESPECT FROM MEN_ AMEN
OBAMA IS A SYMBOL OF LOVE AND UNITY IN THIS WORLD HE HAS BROUGHT AMERICA AND THE WORLD TOGETHER FOR CHANGE BLACKS AND WHITES ALIKE ADORE OBAMA_HE HAS A GORGEOUS BLACK QUEEN " MICHELLE" AND SWEET PRINCESSES THAT WILL LEAD THE UNITED STATES ONE DAY FREE AT LAST FREE AT LAST GOD ALMIGHTY FREE AT LAST RACISTS ARE THE FECES OF THE NEGATIVE LETS FLUSH ALL OF THE HATERS DOWN THE TOILETS OF EVIL WE HAVE A LOTS OF CELEBRATING TO DO BECAUSE WE WILL FINALLY YES FINALLY HAVE A NEW BLACK PRESIDENT SOON
VOTE OBAMA IGNORE THE HATRED ON MEDIATAKE OUT HOW CAN YOU EXPECT LOVE IF YOU HATE EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT LOOK LIKE YOU
WHEN WE DIE WE TURN INTO TO ASH DIRT SOIL WE ALL BECOME BLACK
MOTHER AFRICA IS EVERYONES MOTHER YOU BETTER BELEIVE THAT I HAVE SEEN ALLEDGED WHITE RACISTS GIVE BIRTH TO NAPPY HEADED CHILDREN
I LOVE OBAMA AND THE NEW FIRST FAMILY OF THE USA AND BLACK PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD FEEL OBAMAS PRIDE AND JOY WE SUPPORT HIM AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITES STATES OF AMERICA
AMEN
May God be with him and his family. She'll see him win the election tomorrow. She may not be here physically but she'll be watching him.
@ bynx To say something so cruel (even if you're joking) shows that you're nothing more than a demon from hell. I pray that God has mercy on you and your family and that nothing tragic like this happens to you or your family.
Condolences to Barack's family for today. No matter what, history will be made tomorrow.
bynx- Are you serious? Why post that as a comment when the man's grandmother died? How are you going to question someone's character? What's wrong with being part Arab, white or black? Get your racist tale off this site!
Want a voice, get your own website and quit jacking Fred. A-Hole.
May she rest in peace...she would have been proud of him...so when he becomes president, she will be smiling from heaven. Now as far bynk is concern, nothing. Because the fact is as Bob Marley and the Bible as always said that tomorrow should look upon as the head cornerstone. If Barack only serves only day in office, it won't matter cause the chain of white men running this country will be over. this will open the door for women, asian, latinos,and other races the chance to run this United States of America...
That is so heartbreaking and unfortunate that she will not get to see him make history. What's even more unfortunate (sad really) is that I think she probably died a couple weeks ago when he "took a couple days off to go visit his ailing grandmother." I really think that this man has been walking around for two weeks hurting and knowing that his grandmother died-yet, he made these two weeks HAPPEN. I really think that his PR team thought it best not to report that she died until a very [opportune?] time...the day before election.
CINCINAMON U MAKE A GOOD POINT
I MEAN DIS IS POLITICS AFTER ALL..AND POLITICIANS ARE VERY VERY SHADY..ANYONE WHO THINKS HE IS NOT CAPABLE OF DOIN SOMETHIN LIKE DIS IS A *** FOOL...
BUT SOMETHIN ALSO TELLS ME THAT, EVEN THOUGH POSSIBLE, HE WOULD NOT SINK THAT LOW...AS IT IS RISKY CUZ A DEATH CERTIFICATE IS NOT DIFFICULT AT ALL TO OBTAIN
@ the *** who is hatin on obama........thank goodness for the internet, i'm proud to say just about ALL that $hit u posted about obama was and is ***$hit. i was almost drawn in till i saw the part about him being muslum.ur facts and ur abilities to reconize them leaves a whole lot to be desired. u need to leave google alone u m0t#***. just make sure ur dumb *** joins all of mto as we celebrate the election of barack obama tomorrow ***.don't worry mr.bynx, it will be fun!
awww?? Did boomboom make another screen name (bynx)... I suggest you get your facts straight before posting ridiculous *** and have some respect! Anyways... I'm so sorry she died I was pullin for her to make it til tomorrow but I know she'll be watching. Get out and vote and don't let no lies and intimidation scare you or fool you. You have the RIGHT to vote no matter what so DO IT! OBAMA/BIDEN 08!!
Why is Jay-Z the headline over the potential first black president grandmother's death.Also who is this braindead cincinamon person that thinks Obama would fake his grandmothers death when he has a 51-42 to lead nationally how IGNORANT!!!!!!!Less time on mediatakeout and more time in the library no words bnck(racist) wrong website
I'm sure President Obama will miss his grandmother dearly,I can't imagine how he must feel. I too lost my grandmother but not on the eve of becoming President and making history. I know she was trying to hold on to see him become our next president but she must have known something we didn't know...she knew that everything was going to be alright and so God let her rest. R.I.P. "Toot" You taught him well!! Thanks B for that lil tidbit...
My condolences, but Granny is with royalty right now and out of her pain, as she walks to the table with the one god she is welcomed, she is @ peace knowing her grandson will be the next and th frist black man to become president of the united states, yes we can!!!!!God bless you all.. VOTE OBAMA YALL!!!!
R.I.P-TUTU MAY GOD REST YOUR SOLE. you know whats so sad is that still in this sad story we are still attacking eachother....first of all OBAMA is both black and white and that is what this country needs...not a black man or a white man beacuse both of us have screwed up and we need what this country is now and will be in the future...ONE MIXED RACE...I can not wait to vote tomorrow ..i have three beautiful mixed children and i cant wait for there to be someone that they can relate to that isnt about all this stupid s*hit....someone who everything isnt white and black but about love and differences and how we can learn from eachother and be kind to everyone that is what TOOT stood for that is what she wanted and that is why OBAMA is going to be the BEST president we have ever had............STOP THIS S*HIT!!!!
RIP AND CONDOLENCES TO OBAMA AND HIS FAMILY.
I THINK THE BEST THING WE CAN DO AS PROUD, POSITIVE INTELLECTUAL BLACK PEOPLE IS TO STAND TOGETHER AND IGNORE THESE IGNORANT AZZ PEOPLE. AS LONG AS U PAY ATTENTION TO THEM THEY WILL KEEP COMING WITH THAT ***$H!T. JUST IGNORE THEM CRACKA AZZ CRACKAZ...STICK TOGETHER AND DONT LOSE SIGHT OF OUR GOAL. WE CAN DO THIS
VOTE TOMORROW...OBAMA 08
@boomboom123
McCain already PUBLICALLY said that BARACK OBAMA is a GOOD MAN and that he is NOT a TERRORIST.
So are you here representing McCain or your own RACIST views??!??
It is unfair to Senator McCain to use his face to PROMOTE YOUR HATE!!!
Just let the Candidates speak for themselves VOTE YOUR VOTE tomorrow.
He never thought that people just may want to SUPPORT their DEMOCRATIC PARTY!!!
It always got to be a race thing...
They're 3 times as many WHITE people voting for Barack than Blacks so maybe he need to go to PerezHilton.com and talk that mess!!!
I just have a problem with Racist throwing up McCain's face like he co-signs that nonsense...
Don't defame McCain!! Don't defame McCain!! Don't defame McCain!! Don't defame McCain!! Don't defame McCain!! Don't defame McCain!!
Let the VOTES DECIDE!!!!!!
@ boomboom123,
This is the perfect area for you to paste your BS right. You are one ignorant person who is trying to use this last minute tactic to help that old man and his lady into an office that is not destined to be his. Give it up. If you are a black woman you are a coward as well. While you are cutting and pasting in an area where we are grieving for our president you need to be with the rest of those republican voting in the place of dead people and made up names. As a matter of fact we prefer not to hear from your ignorant azz again on MTO.
Wow first off I wuldnt pay da obama hataz *** e mind....they obviously want last minute ATTENTION!! Yall need to stop arguin wit da nappy headed hoe!! Now may obama grandma rest in peace..amen OH YEA MTO Y WULD YALL GO TO POLITICS.MSNBC.COM and COPY *** PASTE THEIR WHOLE STORY..NOT A GOOD LOOK..SMGDH!!!
@Need No More NAME Recognition
You said: "SHE DIED FROM EMBARASSMENT. SHE RAISED A MUSLIM TERRORIST." and "I agree. What the heLL do I care about his grandmother?" And how can we forget... "*** BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!"
If you are such a GREAT CHRISTIAN, maybe you should ask yourself "What Would Jesus Do?" before you open your mouth!!!
A TERRORIST invokes FEAR in other people so right NOW...YOU sound like BIGGEST TERRORIST to me!!!!
Please RESEARCH BOTH CANDIDATES past their SKIN COLORS!!!!
mccain surge party in boomboom123 mouth and everyone can ***.
boomboom123 is pure angry trash.
boomboom123 and mccain are dumb losing f_u_c_k_s.
McCain is a crazy, old fool. He lives on his own planet where he makes all the rules. McCain is a lying idiot! This moron picks a bimbo, who is anti-women's rights, for VP to try to sway female voters!
Sarah Palin and McCain are a good pair. She's pro-life and he's clinging to life."
"This isn't a presidential ticket, this is a sitcom. The maverick and the MILF
Seems to me people in AMERiCA do not understand the difference between Arab (an ethnicity) and Muslim (a religion). Many Arabs, particularly Lebanese, are actually Christians and many Muslims (***, Malaysians, Turks) are not Arab. Religion is a choice, whereas ethnicity is not. SO WHAT if barack hussein obama is an arabic name??? i got an arabic name too but i got arab in me, eventhough am somaliaa. People these days.. white/black girls name themselves aaliyah or laila??? wha tha hell thas arabic name so stop being ignorant&&hating on arabs yet using their names :S ..Aha how funny!
BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA mayb be an arab name BUT SO IS john a JEW name so get your facts straight before mocking muslims or claiming BARCK HUSSEIN OBAMA is a terrorist LMAO..because he has an arabic name ??? so apperently as a somali neighbour of kenyan's i am also a terrorist for having an arabic name??? Jeez
*** PEOPLE.. what you expect from ill minded, uneducated americans (not all you's the idiotic ones!!!) SOWHAT if his dad/step dad was muslims and what !!!
Peace Birminghaaam.UK x
Wow...boom x2 is sooooo typical: incoming, incoming, the monkey *** tactics have commenced! Throwing everything and seeing what sticks. And if boom does have a dark tan, notice I never said black, then it is more delusional than Dahmer, and to suggest someone would kill a relative in order to get elected??!!! No you're not black, you're a demonic waste of 7.5 min to make...and should've been a stain on the floor!
What I don't like about Obama is him smoking cigarettes. I know he's trying to quit, but if ur mom & grandma both died of cancer then you should know you are more likely to get it than someone who doesnt have a history of cancer in their family. Leave that *** ALONE!! You should wanna hold onto ur life for as long as you can!
R.I.P to barack's grandmother and mother you know life is full of suprises and for history to be made today on november 11 is a very special day and i know she will be looking down at her grandson and i hope barack will keep his head up high and lead this world to a better direction then bush and way better then mccain would have and for haters like BOOMBOOM123 who IZ FULL OF JEALOUSY AND HATE FALL BACK AND DONT BLAME OBAMA BLAME YO MOMA HISTORY WILL BE MADE AND JUST TO LET DUMB IM NOT GONNA CURSE BE TO LET IGNORANT PEOPLE LIKE YOU KNOW NOT ALL BLKS ARE VOTINMG FOR HIM BECAUSE HE IS BLK ME IM VOTING BECAUSE THIS MAN IS VERY SMART AND VERY INTELLEGENT AND HE KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS TO DO AND HE DOESNT NEED SOMEONE ALL UP ON HIM LIKE MCCAIN AND HE IS NOT FAKE he meens everything that comes out of his mouth and he doesnt need somebody like bush to support him! SO GET IT RITE IF U NED TO KNOW DUMMY BUT JUST SIT BACK HATER AND WATCH AS HISTORY IS MADE! BARACK OBAMA 08!!!!! A NEW WORLD IS COMING AND CHANGE WILL DEFINATELY BE MADE!
It's sad but it's okay... it's all part of what God has in stored for him, part of his blessings. HE WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES... there has been too many coincidences, even before he was Senator. He is the chosen one, i have leared to understand and accept it... NO ONE can change what GOD's plan...
BOOMBOOM123 I CANT BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO ADMITT YOUR A BLACK PERSON..TO HAVE SO MUCH HATERED TOWARDS ONE PERSON IS DISGRACEFUL..ALOT OF PEOPLE ON HERE IS NOT FOR MCCAIN...BUT THEY ARE NOT COMMENTING ON HOW MUCH THEY HATE HIM...YOU ARE A DISGRACE...I'M SORRY FOR MAKING THE COMMENT I DID TOWARDS YOU YESTERDAY...SOMETIMES I LET THE DEVIL GET THE BEST OF ME...BUT PEOPLE ARE ON HERE TRYING TO COMMENT ON HIS GRANDMOTHER..NO, THE MAJORITY PEOPLE ON HERE DONT KNOW HIS GRANDMOTHER...BUT THE MAJORITY DO KNOW THE FEELING OF LOSING ONE.....SO YES YES WE HEAR YOU...YOU HATE BARACK....BUT DO US A FAVOR AND HAVE SOME RESPECT AND FALL THE HELL BACK!
