Kathryn Smith Bradley

Kathryn Smith Bradley, 73, gained her new heavenly body on April 7, 2021 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease for over 17 years.  

Kathy was born on May 28, 1947 in Fuquay Varina to Hoke and Dot Smith of Kipling, NC.  She married C. Davis Bradley of Raleigh on December 20, 1969.  The two built a life together on the family farm in Kipling, NC and raised two children, Jeff and Taylor.  She attended Lafayette High School, UNC Chapel Hill for her Nursing degree, and North Carolina Central University for her Masters Degree in Library Science. Kathy worked in the medical field for five years before entering the education field.  She joyfully taught at Coats High School and served as the Media Coordinator at Lafayette Elementary School and Harnett Central High School for 30 years. She was an active member of Kipling United Methodist Church her entire life, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, Youth leader and sang in the choir.  She loved watching UNC Basketball, traveling, and her family.  She also loved books, helping children learn to read, attending/leading Bible studies, music, sending cards to someone in need and living by the beach.  Most of all she loved God and loved to share Him with others.  The light of the Lord shone through her in every life she impacted and helped us be better people.  Nothing would please her more than to have each of us continue shining His light.
 
She was proceeded in death by her parents, Hoke and Dot Smith.  She is survived by her devoted husband Davis, her son Jeff (Arianne) Bradley, daughter Taylor (Cliff) Behm and her grandchildren Lane, Isabella, Jackson, Caroline, Conor and Zoe.  She also leaves behind her sister, Susan (Jerry) Vuncannon and her sister in law Nita (Doug) Campbell  as well as special cousins, many nieces and nephews, and special friends who adored her.  We will never fully understand the depth and breadth of the impact Kathy had on so many lives.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests making a donation to the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Hospice - https://lifecare.org who took such amazing care of Kathy.

A drive through visitation will be held at Kipling United Methodist Church on Saturday, April 17, 2021 starting at 3:00 pm, rain or shine.  A Service of Life and Resurrection will be held at Kipling UMC in Kipling, NC on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 3:00 PM.  Livestreaming will be available for the service on Sunday, April 18, through the Kipling UMC Facebook page. COVID-19 protocols will be followed and the immediate adult family has been fully vaccinated.

Kathy’s children, Jeff and Taylor, are forever grateful to their father for fulfilling his wedding vows so beautifully in the ways he has cared for Kathy in such loving ways for so many years.  The family also extends heartfelt gratitude to the countless caregivers who took care of Kathy as if she was their own mother.