Ethel Bradford

Ethel C. (Durden) Bradford, age 93, of Lutz, FL died on March 31, 2024 at Angels Senior Living at the Lodges of Idlewild. Ethel was born in Bishop, Georgia and later moved to Alexandria, Virginia where she met her husband, Lendall “Brad” Bradford. Together they raised their two sons, Bruce and Gary. Ethel was always supportive of her young sons and their athletic activities, but also taught them proper southern etiquette. Ethel was very involved with her church throughout the years, teaching Sunday school, planting flowers, serving meals and helping with church decorations through the seasons. She also enjoyed doing arts and crafts in her retirement years. Ethel was known for being a strong willed lady, with a mind of her own, but was also a devoted prayer warrior.

Following Lendall’s retirement from JC Penneys, they moved to Ocala, Florida where they lived until Lendall’s health issues in 2017. At that time they moved to the Lodges of Idlewild, where Ethel took good care of her husband. After Lendall’s death in 2019, Ethel busied herself with jigsaw puzzles, word search books, and coloring books.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents Alexander and Mattie Belle Durden; spouse Lendall; and nine brothers and sisters: Erastas, Martha (Bauham), Harold, Rachel (Haulk), Louise (Turner), Charles, Fred, George, Howard and Gene.

Ethel is survived by her sons: Bruce and daughter-in-law Susan (Bradford) and Gary and daughter-in-law Debbie (Bradford) and their children and grandchildren.

A family service will be held at Angles Senior Living at the Lodges of Idlewild, Lutz, FL on April 6, 2024 at 10:00 AM. Her ashes will be buried alongside her husband at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida at a later date. Per Ethel’s wishes, there will be no graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Word of Life, 13247 Word of Life Drive, Youth Scholarship Fund, Hudson, Florida 34669 in Ethel’s memory.

Proverbs 31:30-31: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the heavenly gates”.