Malphus "Lee" Leroy Bradbury Jr.

Malphus Leroy Bradbury, Jr. died August 10, 2012, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was born on November 10, 1931, to Malphus Leroy and Maggie Harris Bradbury in Wilson, NC, where he grew up. He was a star athlete at Charles L. Coon High School, and after attending Davidson College for a year on an academic and athletic scholarship, he entered the U.S. Air Force, and served at Clark Field in the Philippines. He received an engineering degree at N. C. State and earned the M.B.A. degree in the first class awarded that degree at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Lee joined Carolina Power and Light Company and worked as district manager in several locations, then for several years as executive assistant to the CEO. His entrepreneurial spirit directed him into successful businesses of his own, and his love of learning lead him back to education. He taught at Hardbarger Junior College, and ended his career there as director of the school. In his retirement he began to write, and eventually he published two books of poems.

Lee’s brother, Edward Earl Bradbury, and a sister, Joan Frances Bradbury, predeceased him. He is survived by his sister Thelma B. Barnes and his sister-in-law Louise Bradbury, both of Wilson; by four nieces, Kim Hartley and her husband Herb, of Sims; Diane Smith and her husband Marvin, of Kenly; Lynn Askew and her husband Phil, of Wilson; and Traci Bradbury of Wilson; by two nephews, Michael Bradbury and his wife Sharon, of Lucama, and James Barnes of Wilson; by great-nieces Heather Smith, of Kenly; Emily Askew-Lovett and her husband Scott, of Wilson; Rhonda Godwin and her husband John, of Wilson; Maggie Hartley and Elizabeth Hartley of Wilson; and Sydney Bradbury of Wilson; and by a great-great-niece Emma Carolina Godwin and a great-great-nephew Sam Lovett, both of Wilson; and his devoted friends remain to mourn his death, and remember him in life.

The staff at Magnolia Glen in Raleigh were kind and devoted in caring for him during his last years, and in the last week Hospice of Wake County provided peace and comfort.

The funeral will be held at Christ Church on Tuesday, August 14, at 10:00, with burial at Maplewood Cemetery in Wilson at 12:30.

Instead of flowers, gifts in remembrance may be made to Christ Church, 120 East Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, or to Carolina Ballet, 3401-131 Atlantic Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27604.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s Street. Raleigh.