Mable was born in Sumter, South Carolina on May 10th, 1932, to Ferdinand and Caslee Martin. Mable and her four siblings were raised with love on a working farm. This is where she found her love for cooking and baking. She learned to make her famous cabbage in her middle school Home Economics class, and if you have ever had her cabbage…then you know!
Mable married the love of her life, James Medlock, on November 25th, 1965, in Sumter SC. She and “Medlock” made San Antonio their home in 1972. They had two daughters, Desiree and Denetrice. She loved her family dearly and supported them in all their aspirations.
She was a graduate of Lincoln High School. During and after high school, she worked on the family farm cropping tobacco, picking cotton, milking cows, and everything else that was a part of farm life. Years later, she would go on to work in a local retail shop.
Mable was feisty from day one. This was demonstrated in her passion for the fight of civil rights. She and her sister were the first African American employees hired at The Gold Shop, a women’s clothing store in Sumter. She served as the president of the local chapter of the NAACP. She participated in the historic March on Washington. Her dedication to the cause led her to participate in other non-violent protests to include sit-ins and silent kneeling at the courthouse where she and others were jailed for their actions. She made sure her children understood the importance of this movement. She was not scared to be the trend setter or the leader, as she was proud to have her two daughters and her niece and nephew be the first children to integrate the local all-white elementary school in Sumter.
If you knew Mable, you knew she was a true follower of Christ. She accepted the Lord in 1976, and her first action was to pour out ALL the liquor from the fully stocked bar in the house! And THEN she joined Macedonia Baptist Church. Later, she and “Medlock” joined Grace First Baptist Church. In 2000, she was a founding member of Now Word Covenant Church, under the leadership of her beloved son-in-law, her “boyfriend”, Keith Graham.
To know her was to love her. God blessed Mable with a unique ability to make everyone she met feel like family. People have often said some of their best memories came from the Medlock home; nonstop parties, laughter, and good ole Southern hospitality. When visiting the Medlock home, one could find themselves transported to many places, such as daycare, Airbnb, counseling office, restaurant, and much more. Mable’s home was truly a place of comfort and refuge. We will miss her warmth, laughter, and her wisdom. The impact on the people in her life will live on forever.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Ferdinand and Caslee Martin; husband, James Medlock; sisters, Fridmae Dicks (Daniel) and Edith Harris (Harry); and brothers, Talmon Martin and Richard “Dick” Martin (Marie). In passing, Mable leaves so many memorable moments of fun and laughter and an abundance of love for her daughters -- Desiree Medlock (William) and Denetrice Graham (Keith Graham), “adopted” son Ceddrick Simmons (Sukether); grandchildren -- Brandon Graham (Devin), Brittnee Warren (Jarves), Bryson Graham (Tiffany), and Matthew Smith; great grandchildren -- Brianna Graham, Payton Graham, Lundyn Warren, Jackson Warren, Kinsley Graham, Harper Graham, and Grayson Graham; as a well as nieces, nephews, a host of bonus daughters, sons, grandchildren, and her loving church family and friends.
VISITATIONTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 20245:00-6:30 P.M.NOW WORD COVENANT CHURCH12525 NACOGDOCHES ROAD, SUITE 110
ROSARYTHURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 20246:30 P.M.NOW WORD COVENANT CHURCH12525 NACOGDOCHES ROAD, SUITE 110
FUNERAL SERVICEFRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 202411:30 A.M.NOW WORD COVENANT CHURCH12525 NACOGDOCHES ROAD, SUITE 110
Pastor Keith Graham will officiate. Interment to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
The rosary and the funeral service may be viewed here.
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