Dr. Mary Flowers Braswell Obituary

In Memory of Dr. Mary Flowers Brackin Braswell (3/27/43–8/11/25)

Dr. Mary Flowers Brackin Braswell (Flowers), a resident of Birmingham, Alabama (formerly of Greenville) passed away at her home on Monday, August 11, 2025.

Flowers was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, John Webb Braswell, a respected civil engineer and executive whose unwavering support and love were central to her life.

Born into a family deeply rooted in Greenville, Alabama, Flowers was the daughter of the late Mary Rutledge Kendrick Brackin and the granddaughter of Mary Bertha Flowers and James Erasmus Kendrick, Sr. Her uncle was the late Dr. James E. (Tommy) Kendrick Jr. who practiced medicine in Greenville. She is survived by her niece Adelaide Kendrick Vandevelde; her nephew Dr. James E. Kendrick IV; and cousins Thomas Scott Mithen, Isabel Dunklin Mithen, Nan Dunklin Hobbs Barganier, Lynn Dunklin Nielsen and James H. Dunklin IV.

Flowers was a 1961 graduate of Greenville High School, graduate of The University of Alabama, and earned her Doctorate from Emory University.

A pillar of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of English, Dr. Braswell was widely recognized for her profound expertise in medieval literature, particularly the works of Geoffrey Chaucer and the intersection of law and literature in the medieval period. Her scholarly legacy includes four influential books and dozens of meticulously researched articles that have shaped the field and inspired generations of students and academics.

Beyond her publications, Dr. Braswell was a passionate educator and mentor. She guided countless graduate and honor students, many of whom went on to earn national accolades for their work. Her dedication to teaching extended beyond the university, as she led summer workshops for educators and collaborated with The Sterne Library to enrich Birmingham’s literary and educational landscape.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025, beginning at 11:00AM at Magnolia Cemetery with Dr. Robert Fossett officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given in her name to the Alabama Kidney Foundation, Box 12505, Birmingham, AL 35202.