Vivian Bradley

VIVIAN BRADLEY was born to Willie Lee and Gertrude Pickett on May 17, 1934 in Sanford, N.C. She has one sister, Viola Richardson, of South Carolina and one brother, the late Irvin Maxwell (who preceded her in death). She attended school in North Carolina before moving to South Carolina with her family and meeting her late husband, Maynard Bradley, who preceded her in death and moved to Baltimore, MD where they raised six children, five daughters and one son together and a host of "adopted' children.

Vivian came to know the Lord at a very early age and grew in her love for God. On Sunday mornings, she was up early cooking breakfast, drinking coffee and singing gospel songs like "Going up to Yonder" or Rev. Milton Brunson or Mahalia Jackson. She also loved  Shirley Caesar. When going to visit her, you knew that you were going to get good conversation and good food because she was a great cook. Family was very important to Vivian and she tired hard to instill this in her family and those surrounding her. She had a long and fulfilling life where her happiness lied in being with her family. She worked in many areas before settling into healthcare and fulfilling one of her life's passions as a nursing assistant. She loved taking care of people and it showed everyday. Sometimes it was family, sometimes the neighborhood, sometimes co-workers, her children's friends and friends of the family, she was always willing to step in and help as much as she could. She touched the lives of everyone who knew her.

She leaves to cherish her memory: one sister, Viola Richardson (brother-in-law-Eli Richardson); (her children-Carolyn Bridges, Elaine Smith, Maynard Bradley, Jr (Juney) and Wanda Robinson (son-in-law, Wimberly), (daughters, Christine Stanback and Diane Bradley preceded her in death); grandchildren, Lawanda (spouse, Nathaniel), Lisa, Jacquita, Charlotte, Kquiana, Travis, Katrina, Tameka, Shantall, Dashawn, Dominique and Tishearra; 24 great-grandchildren, nieces, Patricia Moore, Linda Snead, Paula Barnette, nephews, James Byrd, Marty Byrd and Tracy Richardson; and a host of other family and friends.