Mabel was born July 11, 1923, in Memphis, TN, to Luther and Zudie Graham. She learned to dance early and found her way to the dance floor whenever possible. She was a social butterfly and loved to be around people. Her best friend Cordie introduced her to her brother, making them sisters for life.
She married Dick for 33 years until the Lord called him home. In that time, they built a beautiful life with four exceptional children. When you walked into her home, you were family; she made you feel loved, wanted, appreciated, and much more. She loved her children (birthed and non-birthed) and their spouses as her own and all the beautiful blessings that came with them. She kept every single card given to her in her lifetime, and she loved to show pictures off to everyone who would come to visit. She loved big hugs, lots of kisses, and visitors. She only asked that if you visited, please be quiet at 1:00 pm daily for an hour as Days of our Lives played.
She spent her career working as a bank teller, sharing her fabulous smile with so many in her community. In her spare time, she was a member of Beta Sigma Phi and helped coordinate countless PT Boat Reunions. So if you went to the Pyramid, Redbirds Game, Orpheum Theater, or Memphis in May, the chances you came across her beautiful smile are very high.
She is survived by her Daughters Peggy Douglas and Eenise Farris, Sons Richard Hughes Jr (Debbie) and Richard Gardner, 11 Grandchildren, and 14 Great Grandchildren. She has now been reunited with the love of her life Richard Hughes Sr, Daughters Donna Porter and Stephenie Moore, and Grandson Richard Hughes III (Trey).
For the last 15 years of Mabel’s life, she occasionally needed assistance from the Memphis and Olive Branch Fire Departments. While this is not the way she wanted to have visitors, she always appreciated the exceptional service and rescue from these heroes. Her last days were spent surrounded by her entire family under the care of the fantastic nurses at Olive Branch Methodist Hospital. The family is eternally grateful for all the love, dignity, and respect that Mabel received from many.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Wednesday, July 20th at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue. A Celebration of life will be held at Memphis Funeral Home on Thursday, July 21st at 10:00 am, followed by a Graveside Service with a reception.
In Lieu of flowers; a donation can be made to Breast Cancer in memory of Mabel Hughes.
Written by Michelle Bishop Hughes – my other daughter
