Mother of T.V. judge Mable Ephriam succumbs

Mable Ephriam, mother to popular television justice, Mablean Ephriam, died at her home recently. She was 98 years old.
Ephriam, described by many as a caring and generous woman, was born Sept. 29, 1911 to Laura Rawls and Tom Strong of Crystal Springs, Mississippi. She relocated to Memphis, Tennessee at age 15, where she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School.
Mable met and wed Robert T. Ephriam in July of 1934, giving birth to their first child a year later; nine others would come in the years that followed. Three preceded her in death.
After moving to Southern California in 1955, the Ephriam family became members of Emmanuel Church of God in Christ (COGIC), where Ephriam remained loyal until her passing.
While at Emmanuel, she taught Sunday school; participated on the Mother’s Board; was active in Prayer and Bible Band of which she served as president for more than 20 years; and she was also a valuable part of the Young People Willing Workers.
In addition to her activities within the church, Ephriam engaged in community outreach, and was particularly known for reaching out to children near the church and urging them to come in and visit.
Often, she could be seen walking to church and stopping to pick up children on her way.
Ephriam’s enthusiasm for youth wasn’t limited to her faith. In fact, she greatly valued education and earned an Associates of Arts degree in nursing from Los Angeles Trade Technical College then passed the state licensing board test to become a licensed vocational nurse.
Ephriam is survived by seven children: Robert Allen Ephriam, Mae Ephriam Stewart, Lee Ola Wade, Richard Carl Ephriam, Frank Charles Ephriam, Mablean Ephriam and Marilyn Walker; two son-in-laws, Lucious Stewart and Holloway Walker; one daughter-in-law, Ann Ephriam; 24 grandchildren, two nephews and their families, Earl and Ann Young of Chicago, IL; and Maurice and Faye Strong of Los Angeles, CA; cousins Jean and Charles McCoy of Detroit, MI; and adopted children, Master and Marie DeBose of Grand Rapids, MI; 40 great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren and; a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.