Madge Terry Thompson, a lifelong civil rights activist and proud descendant of one of Seattle’s most historically significant Black families, passed away last week. She was the last living daughter of her generation and a dedicated guardian of the Cayton family legacy.
Born to Lillian Cayton and granddaughter of Susan Revels Cayton and Horace Revels Cayton—founders of The Seattle Republican, Seattle’s first Black-owned newspaper—Madge carried forward her family’s deep commitment to community, justice, and the power of storytelling.
A graduate of Garfield High School, she devoted her life to civil rights advocacy, youth empowerment, and preserving Black history. Her activism was especially felt in Seattle, where she helped organize numerous Martin Luther King Jr. marches as an active member of the NAACP.
Her dedication earned national recognition, including an invitation to Mississippi to attend the unveiling of a statue commemorating Black History Month—a moment that underscored her lasting impact on the movement for racial equality.
Madge’s passing marks the end of a vital chapter in one of Seattle’s most historically significant Black families. But her spirit, like the newspaper her grandparents founded, lives on through the stories she told, the people she empowered, and the history she helped shape.
She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and community.
