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Gilbert Bradley

May 25, 2018
Vandalia, MI

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Gilbert Henry Bradley, Jr., age 77, of Vandalia, died peacefully Friday, May 25, 2018 in the comfort of his family's presence in Elkhart Memorial Hospital. He was born September 16, 1940 in Hodge, Louisiana to Gilbert and Carrie Bradley. At age three, the family moved to Inkster, Michigan. He married Mary Marie Haines August 17, 1968 in Cassopolis, Michigan. In 1978 they moved to Alexandria, Virginia for his career, until he retired and they moved back to Michigan in 2004. Gil valued education, receiving his Master's Degree from Western Michigan University. He attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., working on his Doctorate of Divinity degree. He was baptized by his father at a young age, and became an ordained minister in 1985, pastoring two churches in Virginia in his career. Gil's family teases that they could not count all of the many jobs that he held, all of them being in teaching and human services. From 1971 to 1973, he served as the first black mayor of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Gil liked to spend his spare time golfing, fishing, and listening to music of all genres. He and his wife, Mary, went on a lot of trips, especially to the islands. Gilbert will be greatly missed by family and friends. He is survived by his wife of almost fifty years, Mary Bradley of Vandalia; two daughters, Gayle Williams of Vandalia, Karla Smith of Centreville, Virginia; two grandchildren; Vivian Marie Williams and Brett Spencer Williams; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Louise Bradley, who died at the age of nine months. One of Gil's favorite Bible promises from Jesus is "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3. Family and friends will gather Saturday, June 2, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. until time of service at 5:00 p.m. in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway Street, Cassopolis, with the Reverend Michael Anderson officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.