Wilma Lee ("Bill") Bradford

We sound the alarm for the Heaven Bound Train for Wilma Lee Bradford, departing her life on April 6, 2023 at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Wilma was the daughter of the late Mollie Mae and Robert Ross. She was born February 9, 1943 in Almyra, Arkansas.

She married her childhood sweetheart Nathaniel Bradford. And to this union, five children were born. Wilma was a devoted Mother. She confessed her hope in Christ at an early age. Wilma was a faithful member of Traveler’s Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Stuttgart, Arkansas, where she served and was President of the Mother’s Board, a member of the Golden Girls choir which she directed, and other positions she held in her church home.   

Wilma was a graduate of Immanuel High School. She enjoyed traveling, cooking, ironing, attending church, and spending time with her sisters and first cousins. She cared for many who came to live with her over the years. Wilma privately sat for many years taking care of the sick and shut-in. She cleaned houses and later became an employee of Riceland Foods, where she later retired. Wilma then returned to private sitting until she was no longer able to.

Affectionately known as Bill, Wilma was a pillar of the Rock Island community, where she served anyone and everyone who came to her door or her presence. She lived the last years of her life enjoying family and residing in her home in Rock Island, nurturing and being Aunt Wilma and Grandma Wilma to all the children in the neighborhood.

She was preceded in death by her husband Nathaniel Bradford, daughter Nadine Bradford, son Edward Bradford, grandson Zyrique Geans, brother Johnny Paul Ross, and sister Roxanne Luckett.

Wilma leaves to cherish this memory, one daughter Stephanie Buie (Edward) of Pine Bluff, AR; two sons Michael Bradford (Nicole) of Arlington, TX and Richard Bradford (DeAundra) of Beebe, AR; seven sisters Mary Dabner (Eddie), Effie Ross, Lena Venyard, Josephine Richardson, all of Stuttgart, AR, Brenda Johnson and Rosie Carlos, both of Little Rock, AR, and Addie Tinsley of Kansas City, MO; one brother Larry Sims of Stuttgart, AR; four special daughters Darlene Ross, Felicia Chatmon, Yolanda Guydon, all of Stuttgart, AR and Hope Clark of Kansas City, MO; and a host of nieces nephews, cousins and other relatives.               

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