Goodbye Mrs. Bradley
Compiled by Tamara Michalenko Terry
Carol Bradley Served the Adventist Church for 38 Years
Carol Bradley retired from the Texas Conference Education Department in December of 2017. She had been an Associate Superintendent for the Texas Conference since 1998. During that time, she traveled the state assisting teachers and attending many school board meetings. She also served on many curriculum committees for Texas and Southwestern Union Conferences that included math, science, social studies and reading. She chaired the ECEC guidelines/curriculum for infant to four-year-olds. She also wrote and taught the curriculum for the outdoor school cruise control class and co-directed the seventh- and eighth-grade music festival for the past 11 years.
“She loved the teachers and understood their challenges, having been a teacher herself,” John Hopps, Texas Conference Education Superintendent, shared.
“She saw the potential in students,” Lynette Ecord, Texas Conference Associate Director for Planned Giving and Trust Services, added. Carol was a teacher at Burleson Seventh-day Adventist School in Burleson, Texas, when Ecord’s boys attended the school. It was during that time (1994-1995) that Carol received the Zapara Excellence in Teaching Award. The following school year, she became Burleson’s principal.
Carol started her career in Texas at the Joshua Adventist Multi-Grade School in Joshua, Texas, as principal and teacher.
Adventist education was her passion. With grace and love, she mentored teachers as they educated students for eternity.
Sadly, Carol did not get to enjoy her retirement long. On December 6, 2018, she died following a valiant battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her family, including her husband of 54 years, Ron, and their children, Carolyn Bradley Rooker, Steve Bradley, Sheri Ova and Lei Lani Bradley.
After her marriage to her high school sweetheart, Ron, on June 22, 1964, in Castle Rock, Colorado, her kind, compassionate heart, and love for learning led her to choose a career in teaching. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southwestern Union College (now Southwestern Adventist University) in 1974 and, in 1993, with a master’s degree in Elementary Education and Administration.
The life sketch from her celebration of life service provided much of the information included here and shared her passion for her four children and grandchildren. She loved to work on memory books highlighting their history with stories, poems and pictures. The family will, no doubt, treasure those books.
Some may not realize that Carol began singing with her husband, Ron, from the first day they met. They continued to provide special music throughout her life. Thankfully, they recorded many of those songs and shared them during the celebration service.
Danielle Bunkley worked in the Education Department alongside Carol for 10 years. She often creates poems from words expressed by others. Here is the one she wrote about Carol Bradley.
Adventist Teacher, Principal, too
Mentor, Counselor, Superintendent, to name a few
Caring, loving, quick witted, as well
Writer, author, with books on the shelf
Mom, Memaw, Sister and friend
Photographer, organized, Ron’s true best friend
Gospel believer, prayer warrior strong
Carol, your life was a beautiful song
When Jesus comes soon, I can’t wait to hear
The new song you’ll sing up in heaven, no tears
In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made in Carol’s honor to the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Carol Leslie Bradley Teacher Education School Fund, PO Box 800, Alvarado, Texas 76009.
Photo by Aaron Thomas
A version of this article is featured in the Southwestern Union Record March/April 2019 issue. You can find the publication online at issuu.com/swurecord.