Gay Pauline Bradley

Born in Savannah, GA on May 5th, 1962, she was preceded in death by her parents Virginia (Ginny) Holshouser Bradley and Edwin (Eddie) Bradley (Linda). She is survived by her brother Philip Bradley (Jodi), sister Angela Lingle (Chip), her niece Skye Bradley, nephews Ayden Bradley and Daveed Aranda (Kayla), a great niece and nephew (Naia, Sage), her companion Gerry Riveros and numerous lifelong friends.

Following her graduation from Savannah Country Day School in Savannah, GA, Gay received a BA in International Economics and Fine Arts at Meredith College in Raleigh. As part of her degree she studied sculpting, creating beautiful objects she displayed throughout her home.

Gay was a tenured employee of the State of North Carolina, achieving a milestone of 25 years in May 2022. She served 15 years at the North Carolina Museum of Art as a Program Assistant to the Design and Exhibit Department, and most recently, 10 years as an Assistant for the State Archives in downtown Raleigh.

Gay lived her life fully. With an infectious laugh and an adventurous spirit, she traveled the world including trips to Africa, Japan, and numerous travels to Europe and South America. She was fascinated with the world, meeting new people and exploring new places. Her travel stories were legendary. Locally, she was never one to miss a new art exhibit, or restaurant opening or dance performance. And never one to miss a party.

As a lover of mid-century modern architecture, she was involved in a local NC Modernist Architecture group that traveled to locations both stateside and abroad. She was a foodie and an avid thrift shopper with a love for vintage – the groovier the better. Her home reflected her eclectic style with items and art collected over the years – a mixture of fun, beauty, and quirkiness. She never left her house without adorning her outfit with a cool piece of jewelry, purse or scarf.

With her inquisitive nature, strangers became friends within minutes. She had a gift for conversation, genuinely interested in others’ lives and experiences. Gay built a loving community of friends whose dedication during her time of need knew no bounds.

Her bright light in this world will be dearly missed.

Special thanks to Transitions LifeCare Hospice for their compassionate care and helping her family and caregivers navigate the difficulties of her health journey.

The family will host a “Garden Party” in the near future to celebrate Gay’s amazingly beautiful life and her unparalleled uniqueness. Details will be shared on Gay’s CaringBridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gaybradley.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gay’s honor can be made under the DONATIONS section below.

* If you would like to contribute to planting and naming a tree in Gay’s honor at the NC Museum of Art, visit Gay’s CaringBridge site for details: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gaybradley