Mrs. Nell Lane Bradford was born in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. She spent most of her young life in Gary, Indiana, where she was educated in the public schools and graduated from the historic Roosevelt High School. She holds the Normal Certificate and Bachelor of Music degree from Sherwood Music School in Chicago, Illinois, as well as the Master of Music degree from the renowned Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio. She also studied at Chicago Musical College and Oakland University in Michigan. Her professional teaching experiences include assignments in the public school system in Edwardsville, Illinois and at Leland College in Baker, Louisiana. She came to Huntsville in the 1940s to teach music in the laboratory high school of Alabama A&M Institute, and later at Alabama A&M University, she was an Associate Professor and the Director of the University Choir for more than 40 years.
During her 40-plus years in Huntsville’s historic Church Street Cumberland Presbyterian Church Music Department, Mrs. Bradford served as pianist and director of the Music Ministry where she initiated and directed talent showcases, choral groups and a variety of musical productions. Throughout her life, Mrs. Bradford has been an active leader and member in several organizations. Among these are Founding Member, The Society of Professional Women and Charter Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Huntsville, Alabama. For her contributions and service to humankind, she has received scores of awards and honors, including the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award, Honoring Our Elders Celebration, Rosetta James Foundation; 2008 Alabama A&M University Award of Merit, Alabama A&M University Alumni Association, Incorporated; 2024 Professor Emeritus, Alabama A&M University; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s 2016 Ivy Foundation Making a Difference Award; 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, Celebrating Education Program, Union Chapel Christian Academy Foundation, Inc.; and 1989 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Award, Delta Theta Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Additionally, Mrs. Bradford has received several citations, resolutions and proclamations citing her service from the former Mayor of Tuskegee, Alabama, The Honorable Johnny Ford; former Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, The Honorable Richard Arrington; City Council, City of Huntsville, Alabama; and the Board of County Commissioners, Madison County, Alabama.
Mrs. Bradford was married to the late Rev. Dr. Henry Bradford, Jr., and they are the parents of two children, Dr. Andréa Bradford and Dr. Henry Lane Bradford, and grandparents of one grandson, Dr. Henry Lane Bradford, Jr.
Funeral service for Mrs. Nell Lane Bradford will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, August 8, 2026 at Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church (315 Winchester Road NE, Huntsville, AL 35811) with Dr. Mitchell Walker as eulogist.
Interment will be in the Valhalla Memory Gardens, 698 Winchester Road Huntsville, AL 35811.
Public viewing will be held at 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Friday, August 7, 2026 and from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., Saturday, August 8, 2026 at Royal Funeral Home.
