Rebecca McConnell Braden

Rebecca McConnell Braden of Hendersonville, TN passed away peacefully at her home on May 7, 2026, after a courageous year-long battle with lung cancer.

Becky was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. Her love, support, guidance, and selflessness were endless to anyone that had the good fortune of knowing her.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut on April 12, 1948, Becky arrived while her father was finishing law school at Yale. When he was commissioned into the Army, her mom packed up and moved the family first to Battle Creek, Michigan, where they lived in a Quonset hut for officers' families, and then to Mobile, Alabama. Just prior to her senior year of high school, her father joined the Peace Corps, so Becky finished high school at the International School of Ibadan in Nigeria, a boarding school for the children of government officials from countries all over the world. Becky then attended the University of Alabama before obtaining her nursing degree in 1970 from St. Vincent School of Nursing in Birmingham, Alabama.

She married Arvin Dixon Braden Jr. on August 9, 1969 and they eventually settled in Memphis, Tennessee. Her career as a Registered Nurse spanned over five decades and three cities. For an encore career, she became “Nurse Becky” at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Madison, TN — where she was adored by each and every student who came to see her.

Becky's bonus chapter was spent at Park Place Retirement Community, where her gift for friendship never slowed. Her golden girl friends meant the world to her — and, true to form, she became a Community Ambassador and was elected President of the Resident's Board.

Known as “Mum Mum” to her nine grandchildren, she was her absolute happiest when surrounded by family. Hosting annual summer vacations, playing games, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, needlepointing, reading, grandkid slumber parties, and family gatherings brought her so much joy. Becky will be dearly missed by all those who knew her and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arvin Dixon Braden Jr.; her father, John William McConnell; her mother, Margaret Snider McConnell; and her sister, Catherine McConnell.

Becky is survived by her loving children: Ashley Braden Feltner (Gabe), Arvin Dixon Braden III (Tracy), Winnie Braden Rose (Kevin), and John William Braden (Sally); adoring grandchildren: Annabel Feltner, Grace Feltner, Dixon Braden IV, Julia Braden, Fletcher Braden, Braden Rose, Abigail Rose, Dewey Braden, and Ruth Braden; brother: William McConnell (Lynne); sister: Margaret Evans; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and loved ones.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 28th, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., followed immediately by a funeral mass at Our Lady of the Lake (1729 Stop Thirty Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075). The family will then continue to celebrate the life of Becky Braden with a reception at the home of Winnie and Kevin Rose in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Arrangements are entrusted to Sumner Funeral and Cremation Lakeside, 615-822-4442.