George & LaJoyce Bradford

LaJoyce Ann (Martin) Bradford peacefully entered the presence of the Lord in the early afternoon of Saturday, January 28, 2018, at her home in Pflugerville, Texas, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Her husband, George Bradford, Sr., lay in bed nearby, semi-conscious after having fallen ill to the flu just a few weeks earlier. Immediately after LaJoyce's departure, George ceased to eat or drink and -- as a fitting postscript to over 50 years of faithful marriage -- followed her to heaven at 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.

LaJoyce was born on August 13, 1947, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the oldest daughter of Willie Martin, Sr. and Juanita (Magee). She trusted in the Lord at an early age and was baptized at Rosehill Baptist Church in Magnolia, Mississippi. She graduated from Eva Gordon Upper School in Magnolia in 1965. Having a beautiful singing voice and always with a song on her lips, she briefly studied music at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi.

George Lacy Bradford, Sr. was born to Buford and Willie (Crosby) Bradford on November 9, 1941, in Forest, Mississippi. He also trusted in the Lord at an early age and was baptized at Long Pilgrim Baptist Church. He graduated from Midway High School in Forest in 1960 and, as the only one in his family to attend college, earned an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Alcorn State University. He later earned a Masters of Business Administration in Atlanta, Georgia.

George and LaJoyce met on the campus of Alcorn State University, where they quickly fell in love and were married in Magnolia, Mississippi on June 11, 1967.

Soon afterward, they moved to Elyria, Ohio, where they began their family. They were blessed with four children, Myron, Danielle, George, Jr., and Michael. After the untimely passing of LaJoyce's parents, they also brought up her younger siblings in their home for many years. Throughout their marriage, their guest bedroom was rarely empty as it housed family and friends.

George and LaJoyce provided for their family, respectively, as a pharmaceutical salesman and stay-at-home mother. As George's career and eventual retirement caused the family to move a number of times, they were faithful to unite with a healthy local church wherever they lived. These included Glorious Apostolic Church in Elyria, Ohio, Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas, and High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, less than two years before their departure from this life.

George and LaJoyce considered family above all other temporal relationships. They are survived by their daughter Danielle Ballard and her husband Luke; their son Mike and his wife Kendra; and grandchildren Xavier, Noella, Joseph, and soon-to-be-born grandson. They were met in heaven by their sons Myron and George, their parents, and several siblings.

A joint celebration of their lives will take place on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.

The family wishes to express their sincere thanks for the love and care they have received during this time and give glory to God for his perfect timing in all things.