Calvin M. “Mack” Bradley, age 91 of Roanoke Rapids, NC died, Sunday, December 20, 2020 at his home. He was born in Greensville County, VA on September 12, 1929 to William Henry and Jenny Morris Bradley.
He retired from Champion International Corporation with thirty-eight and a half years of service.
During the Korean war he served four years in the United States Armed forces with three years, two months and 13 days served overseas. He was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant. As a very patriotic citizen who loved his country, he proudly flew “Old Glory” every day.
He was preceded in death by two infant daughters, Hope and Anna Marie, his parents, three brothers W. H. Simms and Earl Bradley and Clinton Bradley; a sister, Kathyrine Kirkland; two half-brothers, Thomas and Joe Ben Bradley; two half-sisters, Lucille Gay and Annie Morris; two brothers in law, Jersey Conn and Samuel A. Dickens Sr.
Survivors include Eunice Jenkins Bradley, his wife of 68 years, a sister, Hazel Conn of Emporia, VA; he is survived by three sisters-in-law, Emily Bradley of Yorktown, VA and Ella D. Dickens of Alexandria, VA and Lorene Bradley of Emporia, VA and many nieces and nephews; Young friends that he has nurtured through the years will also grieve his passing.
Mack was a former member of Rosemary Baptist Church where he served as an usher, deacon for twenty-one years, as a church clerk and as a representative to the North Roanoke Association. He was also active in the Baptist Men. Now an active member of Roanoke Baptist Church, he has served as an usher, deacon and again as a representative to the North Roanoke Association.
He was a member of the N.C. Baptist Lay Witness Foundation and served on its Board of Directors for many years. He also served on The Board of Directors for the N.C. Baptist Men. Over the years many of his weekends were spent in lay led revivals.
The Prison Ministry was really dear to his heart. He was involved as a layman in the Prison Ministry of Rosemary Baptist Church for forty years. In 1999 he was selected as “Volunteer of the year” for Odom prison. That same year the N.C. department of Corrections Division of Prison in Raleigh, North Carolina honored him as its Volunteer of the Year for the state of N.C. When asked why the prison ministry was so important to him he replied, “Someone has to love these people enough to go in there and tell them that Jesus loves them.”
This he did until ill health no longer permitted him to do so.
After Hurricane Katrina, mission work beckoned to him. He went on three mission trips, one to Louisiana and two to Mississippi serving as a cook for the N.C. Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief.
His one goal in life was to be a witness for Jesus both by word and a life well lived. He was a kind and gentle man with a quick smile and ready words of encouragement who went quietly about doing good.
Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 11am in Cedarwood Cemetery with Rev. Edward Eugene Jenkins and Rev. Rick Rogers officiating.
The family will receive friends after the service at the cemetery.
Flowers are appreciated but contributions may be made to N.C. Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512-1107.
Online condolences may be made to www.askewfs.com