INDIANAPOLIS
Mabel E. Braford, 103, of Indianapolis and Greenwood died on July 15, 2023. She was born November 19, 1919 in Salem, Indiana to the late Warner Mitchell and Edna O’Leva Mitchell. She graduated from Kokomo High School in 1937 and Indiana Central College (University of Indianapolis) in 1941 with high honors. There she majored in English, history and home economics and met her future husband, Mark Braford. They were married for 71 years until Mark’s death in 2012.
Mabel is survived by her children: Mark (Catherine McCormick) Braford Jr., Barbara Suthers, and Ann (Terrence) Mappes; grandchildren: Lenore (Paul Drake) Braford, Zachary (Katy) Braford, Kris (Mariana Nagy) Suthers, Lorinda (Terran Salbego) Suthers-Salbego, Joshua Mappes and Harmony (Andrew Jones) Mappes; and four great-grandaughters: Noelle and Liliana Salbego and Violet and Ivy Jones. She was preceded in death by her three brothers, Loran, Max and Marvin Mitchell and her son-in-law Roderick Suthers.
Mabel was a loving, intelligent and efficient homemaker and always went above and beyond in supporting her family. She was an avid reader and a talented seamstress. At various times in her life, she was in a homemakers’ club, joined a square dance group, and played cards with a large number of friends. When she gardened, she particularly liked pulling weeds. Mabel and Mark traveled widely, including trips to Alaska, Hawaii, England, Africa and New Zealand in addition to many places in the continental U.S. She was a member of the University Heights United Methodist Church for 82 years, serving on numerous committees and as the church librarian for over a decade.
Visitation will be on Monday, July 24, 2023 from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM at G. H. Herrmann Madison Avenue Funeral Home, 5141 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, with the service following at 1:00pm. She will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.
Memorial contributions may be made to the University Heights United Methodist Church or to a charity of your choice in her memory.
