March 5, 1936 – May 6, 2018

 

NATCHEZ — Jimmy Ray Bradley, 82, of Jefferson County, formerly of Natchez, died peacefully with his family by his side Sunday, May 6, 2018, at Promise Hospital.

At his request, he will be cremated. There will be no services.

A private memorial for his wife and children will be at a later date.  The family respectfully ask that friends and loved ones set aside time to remember the life that he shared with us all.

Arrangements are under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Jimmy “JB” Ray, was born March 5, 1936, in Roosevelt, La., the son of Leo Thomas Bradley and Florene Robinson Bradley.  He was the oldest of five children, Milton Bradley, Lamar Bradley, Leo Bradley Jr. and Patricia Bradley Graves.

He is preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Bradley Eugene Tanner.

Jimmy Ray was a 1954 graduate of Natchez High.  He attended Northeast Louisiana College on a football scholarship the following year.  While he excelled at football, (he held a record for most yards in a single season for quite a few years) his true sports heart was in baseball.  He was drafted from an open tryout to the St. Louis Cardinals Farm League.  He played a number of seasons before moving back to Natchez.  He was a well-respected, longtime employee at Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company.  He loved to hunt and fish — anything that came normal to a country boy.  Whether in the boat or at the “huntin’” camp, his traditions were passed on to his sons and grandsons. Being a baseball coach among many other activities, he was looked up to by many as the standard for how a man should stand.

He was married to the love of his life and the light of his eyes, Carolyn Adams Bradley, for 62 years.  From that marriage came what he enjoyed most of all – his family.

Survivors include four children, Charlie Bradley and wife, Lisa, William “Stump” Bradley and wife, Betsy, Susan Bradley Tanner Pharr and husband, Bobby, and Lisa Bradley Haydel and husband, Cliff; nine grandchildren, Jeremy, Kyle and Craig Bradley, Jessica Bradley, Marcy Tanner Jones and husband, David, Matthew Tanner and wife, Danica, Leah Pharr Van Norman and Adam and Michael Haydel; and nine great-grandchildren, Gracie Bradley, Maddie Hodges, Emeri Goheagan, Tanner, Isabella and Anabelle Jones, Charli and Avery Van Norman and Hutch Haydel.

Memorial donations may be made to Cathedral School, Natchez Humane Society or a charity of choice.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.