Betty S. Bradford

She was predeceased by her parents, Eugene M. and Hallie M. Sanders, all of her siblings Grace, Leona, and Buddy, her husband Dr. Thomas G. Bradford, Jr., and son, David C. Bradford. Betty is survived by her children (and spouses), Thomas Gill Bradford, III (Joann) of Tequesta, FL, and Mark S. Bradford (Deborah) of Tuscaloosa. She is also survived by her grandson, Philip Thomas Bradford, Portland, Oregon, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Betty was born in Windermere, Florida, on August 12, 1933. She was the youngest of four siblings. Betty graduated from Ocoee High School in 1951, where she was a cheerleader for the Ocoee Cardinals and a stunning beauty. She was raised in an idyllic world in Old Central Florida, a place of giant oaks, many lakes, white sand roads, freshwater springs, and endless citrus groves and vegetable farms. Betty was raised on her parent’s citrus grove on the north bluff above the banks of Starke Lake in what was once the heart of Ocoee, FL. After high school, Betty worked for a time in Orlando in insurance, but this was never her goal. Her dream was to be a loving wife and mother, and eventually grandmother, which is exactly what she would go on to do.

In 1953, Betty and Thomas were married in Ocoee, whereupon they embarked upon a life journey across the USA for almost 20 years as Thomas’s work with the Veterans Administration entailed transfer after transfer, wherever his periodontal skills were needed, while they raised three boys, which landed them in Tuscaloosa, AL where they ultimately retired in 1979. Over the course of 20 years, Betty had moved 17 times, each with numerous challenges. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Betty volunteered her time to the American Heart Association for many years in Tuscaloosa and was a financial supporter of Agape of Central Alabama.

In the homes that Betty and Thomas created together, the sound of her music was frequently heard. Betty learned to play the piano from her mother. Whether listening to her albums, cassettes, or CDs or just humming a melody, Betty loved being around music. She loved albums from the popular Broadway musicals of the day and loved Willie Nelson’s version of Stardust. When her children were young, she would occasionally bring out her cherished “78” rpm album of Judy Garland singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, her all-time favorite as a girl. Betty was a fantastic cook and took great pride in keeping her family and visiting friends well-fed, Southern style. Her home was open to all the children of the neighborhood within which she resided. Hers was a home of no pretense. Her children and their friends in the neighborhood were allowed to laugh, play, run, relax, and enjoy her home and food as if they were her own children. All children were allowed to run free and as such Betty’s home was always a neighborhood magnet. Every child wanted to be around the Bradford house come lunchtime where Betty just might make them a cheeseburger and french fries from scratch. This was a rarity in the ’50s and ’60s and unheard of today. Those who were invited to dinner raved about it for years. Later in life, as her boys became independent, one of her greatest joys were her beloved Cocker Spaniels Samantha, Buffy, and Precious. Each was devoted to Betty and followed her wherever she went in the house, for a walk, car, it didn’t matter, they were inseparable as she spoiled them all just as she did her own children.

Through it all, Betty never wavered on one thing, her Christianity and devotion to God. This was always evident in the manner in which she conducted herself. If the church doors were open Betty was there unless she was ill. The order of Betty’s priorities were God, family, and country.

Our mother has been released from this earthly realm and all of the trials and tribulations of mankind’s existence. Her family will forever miss her love and comfort, and the sweet sound of her soft southern voice, but we have comfort in knowing that she is at peace in Heaven watching over us, the family that she created and adorned with love and a lifetime of devotion that we shall never forget.

The family honored Betty's life at a private service at Memory Hill Gardens, 2200 Skyland Blvd East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405, with Memory Chapel Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Betty's memory to the Central Church of Christ of Tuscaloosa or Agape of Central Alabama. Please visit her memorial page at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/tuscaloosa-al/betty-bradford-9353744