Mildred Braden

Mildred Ruth (Franse) Braden passed away peacefully at her home on December 3 at 4:14 PM, surrounded by her beloved family. She left this world as many of us hope to, resting peacefully at home and free from pain. Most importantly, her family finds comfort in knowing that the moment she took her final breath here on earth, she took her first breath in Heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mildred was born on June 17, 1925, to William Crit Franse and Iva Minerva Franse. On December 17, 1942, she married the love of her life, McKinley Braden. During World War II, while McKinley served in the South Pacific for more than three years, Mildred worked faithfully at Fulton Manufacturing. Their beautiful love story spanned 71 years until McKinley’s passing in 2013.

On May 1, 1956, Mildred and McKinley founded Braden’s Furniture, a family business that continues to thrive through its third generation and will celebrate its 70th anniversary this coming May.

Mildred is survived by her only child, Gary McKinley Braden, and his wife of 47 years, Karen Braden; their three children: Nick Braden and wife Michelle Braden, Natalie Braden Thomas and husband Lincoln Thomas, and Alexander Braden and wife Breyna Braden. She was the proud and deeply loving grandmother of eight great-grandchildren: McKinley Faye Braden (19), Crawford Braden (14), Isaiah Thomas (16), Emory Thomas (16), Jeremiah Thomas (13), Ellis Thomas (8), Kepa Braden (5), and Kaia Braden (2). She is also survived by her step great-grandchildren: Taylor, Jackson, Hudson, and Armani. Additionally, she is survived by her nieces, Crithia Franse and Valerie Franse Beecham and husband Joel Beecham, and their children, Leslie and Eric.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, McKinley Braden, and her daughter-in-law, Ashley Faye Morrow Braden, mother of McKinley and Crawford.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Aging Adult Assistance for the loving and compassionate care they provided to Mildred over the past several months.

The family will have a visitation with light refreshments on Monday, December 8, 2025 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at Berry Highland Memorial, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. A service will follow at 1:00 PM with Mark Moreland officiating.

Family and friends are invited to share memories or condolences with the family at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com