Marshall Bradford, age 69, passed away Oct. 18, 2016, in the Palliative Care Unit of ECM Hospital of natural causes.
He graduated from Central High School in 1965. He graduated from Florence State College and from Advanced ROTC in 1970. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He continued additional training at the Airborne School. He served his country in Germany and Anniston, Alabama before receiving an honorable medical discharge.
He worked as an environmentalist for the Department of Public Health in Colbert and Tuscaloosa Counties.
Marshall’s faith was very important to him. He joined the First United Methodist Church of Florence in 1959. He was baptized by immersion at Parker Memorial Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa and drove the church van. Later, he became a member of the Magnolia Church of Christ in Florence. He attended the Chisolm Hills Church of Christ singles program where he met his wife. Marshall had a strong faith and trust in the Trinity.
He was a Master Mason, a member of the American Legion, and a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans. Marshall loved God, country, and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Kathleen Bradford, and his dear infant son, David Michael.
His survivors include his beloved wife, Claudette; his two beloved sisters, Kathy Eck, of Florence, and Adrianne Rice, of Marietta, Georgia; his three nieces and one nephew are Ashley Butler, (children, Lauren and Ian), Kristi Brown (children, Jade, Jonathan, and Jazmine), Alexandria Haines (children, William and Kai), and Joseph Rice, of Marietta, Georgia; aunt, Sarah Ruth Horn, of Birmingham; uncle, George and Aunt Jeanie Braly, of Tanner, Alabama; uncle, Donald Stafford, of Illinois; and many beloved Bradford and Braly cousins.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, at 2 p.m. for close family, friends, and caregivers in the chapel of the First United Methodist Church of Florence with a reception following in the parlor. The Rev. Robert Sparkman will be officiating. The military interment will be held at 3:15 p.m. in Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Outreach programs of the First United Methodist Church, the Diabetes Foundation, or the Disabled American veterans. You may sign the guestbook at sprywilliams.com.
