Grady Brox Jr

Grady Brox, Jr. was born March 12, 1929, to Grady Brox, Sr. and Lillian Smith Brox in New

Edinburg, Arkansas. He was the eldest of 8 children born to this union. He also had an older

sister born to his father in an earlier relationship. As a child, Grady, Jr. was adventurous, and

could be found at any time with his best friend for life, his little brother, Marks Henry. The two

were inseparable and remained connected regardless of geographic distance.

As a young man, Grady, Jr. decided to leave his small town in Arkansas to pursue better

opportunities for his family in California. Along the way, he joined the Army and served in the

Korean War, where he was wounded in action by missile and was awarded the Purple Heart

medal along with the National Defense Medal in 1953.

Grady, Jr. married his first wife Odessa Edwards in 1950 and they made a life in

Southern California. From this union, seven of his children were born: Linda Kay, Vanessa, Vicky,

Gradietta, Reginald, Michael, and Jamal.

In 1973 Grady, Jr. married his current wife, Jamie Minton, and together they raised

Jamie’s sons Leon and Travis and had sons Jared and Grady, III.

Throughout his life, Grady, Jr. was a Jack of many trades. He was long haul truck driver

and became an operator of his own rig in 1973. Grady, Jr. loved being a truck driver and

traveled across the eleven western states, often taking along his wife Jamie and their kids. He

found so much joy over the years piling the kids up in the back of the sleeper and hitting the

road where they visited many places, including the Hoover Dam, Disneyland, and the Grand

Canyon.

Since 1987 he has been a staple in the communities of Cottonwood and Redding, CA.,

where he, Jamie, their children, and grandchildren live. Grady, Jr. returned to school at the age

of 75 to obtain his barber license. He then went into business with his son Jared, opening Brox

Barbershop. Just about anyone in Redding could identify Grady, Jr. by his quick wit and

boundless humor, always on display at the shop. Six days a week, he could be found sitting in a

chair outside with a newspaper in hand and a smile on his face. He had a relatable story for

every situation and could hold an audience captive for hours at a time.

Grady, Jr. loved sports. He and Jamie would drive to Arizona for MLB spring training,

watch all the Golden State Warriors and Raiders games together and he occasionally attended

pro basketball and football games in-person at the Oakland Coliseum with his sons.

Grady, Jr. was so loved and revered his by family and extended family. They were always

excited when he announced that he would be coming for a visit. As the oldest living member of

the Brox family, his siblings, nieces, nephews, and other relatives would revel at the notion that

“Junya” was coming to town for a visit. It was guaranteed to be a great time!

Grady, Jr. passed away on Monday, July 25, 2022, after a brief illness. He was preceded in

death by his mother and father, his brother, Marks Henry, his sister Clara Mae Brox Johnson, as

well as other treasured loved ones. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 50 years, Jamie,

his nine children: Linda Kay, Vanessa, Vicky, Gradietta, Reginald, Michael, Jamal, Jared and

Grady, III, his two stepsons: Travis and Leon, his siblings: Velma Jean, Sophia Vivian, Alice Faye,

Patricia Ann, Armond Edwin and Stephanie Renee, 20 grandchildren, and 10 greatgrandchildren.

Grady, Jr. will be missed by a host of other loving relatives and friends.