Nancy Hines Bradford

Nancy grew up in Overlea, Baltimore, the youngest daughter of Eddie and Doris Hines, where she was raised in the Catholic faith. She attended St.Michaels grade school, Mercy High School & graduated from Towson University with the goal of becoming a teacher, a profession in which she would go on to meet her future husband, also a teacher.

As a strong woman of faith, Nancy could not have been more active within the Catholic Church. She was a fiery pro-life activist over the last 20+ years, including spending endless hours collecting and laundering infant clothes to donate to pregnancy centers. She also made many religious pilgrimages to places that St Mary had purportedly appeared. She always said a rosary before long trips, and in her golden years attended mass almost daily. At one point she was a confirmation sponsor, & even became a Godmother in 2024.

An ardent Floraphile (flower lover), Nancy grew thousands over the course of her life. Each year she would begin her floral cultivation indoors in late winter, so that when the weather warmed up & it was safe to plant, her gardens would be already full & blooming while others were just getting started. She particularly loved Dahlias, a notoriously difficult & delicate but also beautiful bulb flower that she personally excelled at cultivating. She was known to surprise family & friends with bouquets as well as holiday table arrangements. She also delighted her doctors over the last few years with unexpected floral gifts. Additionally she was a member of both Ladew and Longwood Gardens where she regularly attended events with her friends.

Her favorite activities included beach vacations in South Carolina, attending local concerts of classic rock tribute bands, dancing, & participating in her neighborhood book club with friends.

Finally, Nancy was also an avid & competitive gamer, playfully inviting everyone she could to join her in friendly rounds of Scrabble, Splendor or Scattergories, among others, at every get-together, dinner, & holiday. She was even known to frequent board-game showcases where attendees could sample & play games that were still in development or not yet released to the general public.

She is survived by her adoring sister, Joyce (wife of Russell May), her loving husband of 50 years, Jesse, her son, Alex and his wife, Sony, her granddaughter, Jocelyn, (of whom Nancy was also Godmother), as well as many supportive and loving friends and extended family members.

Relatives and friends will gather at Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., 9705 Belair Rd., Nottingham MD 21236, on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 12 Noon-8:00 p.m. A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, April 28, 2025, 11:00 a.m., at St. Mark Church (Fallston), 2407 Laurel Brook Rd., Fallston MD 21047. If you plan to attend the Mass and a luncheon that will follow, please email the family at [email protected] so they have a count for catering purposes. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Alpha's Glory Pregnancy Center, 219 W. Bel Air Ave., 1st. Floor-Suite #2, Aberdeen MD 21001 www.alphasglory.org