Madra Nelson Britt

Madra N. Britt, a resident of Cary, North Carolina, passed away in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 29, 2026 at the age of 82 after a brief illness. Madra was a beloved citizen of the Triangle since 1970. Born in 1944 in Tallahassee, Florida, as an only child to Mavis and James Nelson, there she spent her formative years. She received her BS in English degree from Florida State University and received her master's degree in counseling and administration from North Carolina State University.

Madra came to North Carolina as the evening program director at Camp Seafarer; she loved the state and remained. Madra served in NC State Government providing loans for medical students, and as Registrar and Counselor at Peace College. She served Meredith College for eleven years from 1989-1998 as Director of Adult Education Programs, Director of Community Programs, and Assistant Director of Career Services.

She co-founded Britt-Grant Associates with Connie Grant, and later formed Britt Associates, a consulting firm for career transitions. She became an international career consultant, and a nationally known career manager and coach for clients including IBM, RJ Reynolds, Siemens, Corning, Ericsson, Sony Ericsson, and Gateway Computers. She created nine career centers in the states of NC, VA, and NY.

With her skills in assisting employees in their corporate pursuits, she was sought by companies such as Progress Energy, Nationwide Insurance, GlaxoSmithKline, and American Express for career development.

Since 2008, she has served as an Executive Coach for Career Advancement at the Fuqua School of Business in the Duke University MBA program. Well-known in her field, she has worked with international clients and has travelled to over 50 countries.

In 1972, Madra married architect William Britt of Raleigh. In 1975, they welcomed their son Garrett Britt. Both Garrett and his wife Kelley are graduates of Cary High School. Madra had an impact upon each life she touched. She was an active volunteer and citizen. She was an outstanding student, teacher, and professional. Always seeking new experiences, she had many friends—business, personal, and worldwide. Her goal was forever to help others be successful.

A Memorial Service to honor Madra will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 2:00 pm at St. Francis United Methodist Church, 2965 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518.