Mrs Shirley Viola Nunes Bradsher

Bradsher, Shirley Viola Nunes, expired after a lengthy illness on December 30, 2010. She was born on January 8, 1923 in New Bedford, Massachusetts; the daughter of Viola Grover and Joseph Buffington Nunes. Shirley was quite proud of her New England heritage; loved the region. She had a love of art and painting. She was educated at Swain School of Design and Simmons Business College, New Bedford, Massachusetts, Westbrook College, University of New England, and the Portland School of Art, Portland Maine. More recently she studied at the Graduate School of Art at the University of Tennessee. She was an artist member and past regional director of the Tennessee Watercolor Society, an active member of the Knoxville Watercolor Society, Art Group 21 and the Knoxville Writers Group. She painted with many media, but in her later years painted mostly in watercolor.

On May 13, 1950 she married Jacob Thompson Bradsher Jr., M.D. They became the parents of three children: Jacob Thompson Bradsher III (Jay), Brooks Buffington Bradsher, and Sherrill Grover Bradsher. There are three grandchildren: Mollie Christine McTeer, Jacob Thompson Bradsher IV and Sarah Emily Bradsher.

She was active in school, church, civic affairs and medical alliances. She was President of the PTA at Belle Morris Elementary school. She served two terms as president of the University of Tennessee Memorial Hospital Auxillary and was coordinator of its Candy Striper program and Gift Shop. She served on the executive boards of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine Alliance, Columbus Home for Children, and the East Tennessee Alzheimer Association where she was a counselor and guest speaker. She was on the advisory boards of Webb School of Knoxville and Lees-McRae College, North Carolina.

For many years she taught the Fidelis and Christian Service Sunday School classes at Washington Pike Methodist Church. She was a current member of Second Presbyterian Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents. She had no siblings. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Jacob T. Bradsher Jr., M.D., sons Jay and Brooks, daughter Sherrill, granddaughters Mollie and Sarah, and grandson JT.

A Memorial Service will be held 2:30 PM Thursday at Second Presbyterian Church, 2829 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 with visitation to follow. Arrangements by Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel of Berry Funeral Home, 2300 W. Adair Dr. Condolences may be offered at www.lynnhurstchapel.com