Thelma L. Brabston

Thelma L. Brabston, 93, died on November 3, 2026.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Burk and Flora Lawrence. She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Brabston; her son, James Brabston (Martha); two granddaughters, Jamie Perelman (Aaron) and Catherine Gerich (Matt); and four precious great-grandchildren, Xander, Owen, Juliet, and Avery, sisters Polly Underwood and Betty Green (Don) and nieces Andrea and Jennifer Green and nieces Virginia Robinson, Barbara Kirkpatrick and Carolyn Gunn.

Thelma was born in rural Jefferson County and spent most of her life in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She was salutatorian of her graduating class at Grapevine High School, finishing second to her lifelong best friend, who was also named Thelma (Plunkett).

One of her teachers, recognizing her potential, secretly applied for a scholarship on her behalf to the College of the Ozarks which she won. One of her proudest accomplishments was attending college at a time when higher education was far less common for women.

When one of her young nieces was just learning to talk, she somehow transformed Thelma into "Dabble." The nickname stuck, and she was forever known by that name to family.

She spent much of her life as a homemaker who loved being a mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother. Her family was very important to her.

A graveside service will be held Monday, November 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Lee Memorial Cemetery, in Jefferson County.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.