We had a service for you today at church, Bobby. It was beautiful. I love and miss you so much.

PART 3 of 3
I belonged to and regularly attended a Baptist church when we met – he was raised and baptized Methodist.
It has been an extremely long and excruciatingly emotional, painful year. This is one time where one must go through this type of loss to even begin understanding the depth of sorrow thrust upon my mind, body and soul. There is no comparison to losing my beloved Nanny and Pop (Grandparents). This is a unique pain that in my case was amplified due to my age when we met, and our longevity. My entire adult life was spent with Bobby. That part has now been callously ripped apart from me.
If I had my way, everyone would find their “Bobby”. The world would be a much better place for it.

PART 2 of 3
There were times when I wondered if introducing Bob, who came from quiet stability to the chaos known as my life was really a good thing. At first, Bobby’s shyness ruled his behavior. It did not take long for him to realize that was not going to fly with me. As I learned peace and humility from him, he learned and grew more self-confident through me. We were good for each other in many ways.
Blessed also were the two of us in health. Bob had hereditary high blood pressure controllable by pill, and 
I always had a “bad” stomach. However, nothing could have prepared us for what was to hit us in our later years.
I thank God every day for our paths crossing. When we met, it truly was one of those times. Both of us saw forever and knew we were meant to be together. As we matured and grew along with our relationship, we became the best two friends the world had ever seen.
Free from any of the clutches of normal relationships, we were allowed to be who we actually were to each other. Our respect for each other and relationship with one another grew exponentially. It had become true that if you saw one of us, the other was not far behind.
I consider myself blessed and special for being a part of Bobby’s life. We were a predestined occurrence, who were in the right place at the right time. His diagnoses and subsequent death left me scarred beyond any healing point known to this world. It was time for me to rely on my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to pull me through this nightmare.
God led me to Ascension Lutheran church. This was a place of God. Between the hospitality afforded me from day one to a Pastor complete with empathetic and intellectual prowess, God shown his light upon me and gladly I accepted it.
Bobby was overjoyed realizing I had found a new church. He was also excited to see that the fit was perfect and that I had once again found the peace that God affords His children.

PART 1 of 3
Bobby was born Robert Vernon Bradley from east Charlotte. He grew up and lived in his childhood home that his father, James Vernon Bradley aka, “Buck”, built for his bride, Lorene six years before Bob’s arrival.
Bobby had a most idyllic childhood, coming from a home where his mother and father loved each other very much. Bob had a half-brother via his father. Lorene immediately took him in and raised him as one of her own. Although 17 years his senior, Bobby truly respected his brother.
Lorene was diagnosed with cancer in the early 1980’s. Bobby watched her suffer greatly until she died in 1983. This had a profound effect on him. The effects were to be seen later in Bobby’s life.
Bobby graduated from Garinger High in 1976 and went directly into the work force. It was three years after his mother died that we met. And the rest, as they say, is history.
We had a most blessed 37 years; friends, family, stable employment, and common interests like amusement parks, the beach, historical sites, music, cooking, and going out to eat.
As we changed and grew into our current type of relationship, our interests stayed the same-which usually is not the case. We had just come to be known so long as “Jeff & Bob” that anything to the contrary made no sense.
We enjoyed our almost “Grandparent” role with our friends. I am not sure if they saw it that way but that is how we felt. Our friend relationships almost all came through my work. I did not have very many jobs in my career as I always was led to make good choices and enjoyed where I worked.
It should go without saying that “I do not meet a stranger” and that proved true as our network of friends continued to grow. We felt wanted, loved and respected and know we reciprocated in full kind if not more. In our world, our friends and family meant everything to us.

Thank you for loving my brother so well.  I know it was hard at times...😉 but you were the love of his life.  

I will miss you forever.

Love, 
Shannon 

We went to the Renaissance Festival with Sister

We went to the Renaissance Festival with Sister. Nice hat, lol

Our one and only pet: Kira in her chair. 

Sea Captain's House, Myrtle Beach, March 2023

Niece and nephew at Nanny and Pop Pop's house. Our grandparents were two angels.

The final beach trip in March 2023. The Birds of Paradise wish finally came true,

Penguins at the Myrtle Beach attraction. We collected penguins together for 37 years.

Our nephew has superpowers, (Looks like Madonna to me, lol)

He always gave the perfect Christmas present. Then again, we sports people are the easiest in the world to buy for!

Silence once was my friend, 
time to reflect on what had been.
But now it seems all it can do,
is remind me how I am losing you.
What once was a gem – 
has taken new flight.
No longer a beacon though still there is light.
Yesterday promised tomorrow’s joy. 
Now all it can do
is remind me of you.
Our playful ways stolen.
A choice not made
yet must be played.
Part of me dies,
now, in your eyes.
They once held me high.
Goodbye, my Friend.
my time has come
to be strong.
I still see forever in your eyes…


OBITUARY

Bob Bradley

April 7, 1958 – April 25, 2023

McEwen Funeral Service at Sharon Memorial Park

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