Mabel Elmira Browning, 91, of Sarasota, FL, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota, FL. She was born on July 19, 1926 in Danville, IL.
Mabel worked as a cook in the Danville School system and in the jail. She also worked for the Royal Donut Shop in Danville and a print shop in Champaign, IL. Mabel loved her children, grandchildren and all of her extended family. She also loved family times, especially when she could gather the family around meal times.
She loved cooking, baking and entertaining, delicious pies were her specialty. Mabel loved music and her favorite Gospel song was “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”. She was known to have a dry sense of humor, be witty and was also a detailed homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Maude Holycross; her brothers, Charles, Herman, Clarence and Dale; her sisters, Dorothy Adams, Emma Hummer, Helen Holler and Ernestine McDowell; her son, Ron Estes; and grandchildren, Katherine Estes and Baby Girl Estes. She is survived by her son, Stephen Estes of Tilton, IL; daughter, Deborah Burks of Sarasota, FL; thirteen grandchildren; twenty seven great-grandchildren; eight great-great grandchildren; her brother, Harold Holycross of Westville, IL; many nieces and nephews; and many friends.
On Monday, July 24, 2017, services will be held at the Orange Grove Free Methodist Church, 2202 26th Ave East, Bradenton, FL 34208. A visitation will commence at 12:30PM and the service will follow at 1:00PM. On Thursday, July 27, 2017, at 10:00AM, Mabel will be interred at the Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, 3901 N. Vermillion Street, Danville, IL 61834.
she had a nice present on her birthday, a trip to see JESUS.she will be miss.
Thinking of Aunt Mabel on this day as we conduct the service for her in Brandenton, Florida. She didn’t just “pass away” as that is a far too generic description of what really happened! She left her earthly body behind (it’s a tent, you know), and SHE went into the heavens, and more importantly, into the arms of JESUS, her Savior and Forever Friend, whom she loved and longed to see face to face! We will miss her here, but look forward to a great reunion down the road. Later this week, Aunt Mabel’s body will be interred in Danville, Illinois following a graveside service. The words of Andrae’ Crouch are on my heart today, “To God be the glory, To God be the glory, To God be the glory for the things He has done. With His blood He has saved me; With His pow’r He has raised me. To God be the glory for the things He has done!”
I will miss Mabel. She had a great memory and loved to visit with everyone. She was good at telling you stories that you had forgotten. I enjoyed visiting with her a couple of months ago. You would not believe she was 91 years old. When I think of her I always think of Black Walnut cake. Wow, I can taste it now. I will see her again one day and walk the streets of gold with her and all the others that have passed ahead of us.