James M. “Mike” Bradley
James Michael “Mike” Bradley, 61, of Wake Forest passed away unexpectedly Wednesday evening, September 3, 2014, at UNC Memorial Hospital.
Mike was born in Maryville, Tennessee. Growing up in an Air Force family, he spent his youth in France, Arizona, Virginia and Tennessee. He graduated from Everett High School in Maryville and from Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh. He served honorably in the United States Navy from 1971 to 1975. He was employed in HVAC sales with Brady Services in Raleigh, where he had worked for nearly 30 years.
Mike was a deeply ethical man and a generous extrovert who worked hard and played hard. He loved to laugh and enjoyed a large circle of friends. An avid reader with numerous interests, he had extensive knowledge of World War II military history. He also spent many vacations exploring Civil War battlefields and obscure, rural gravesites, searching for ancestors with his wife, Cathy. Among his other pastimes were kayaking, listening to bluegrass music, and the thrill of driving on a curvy, mountain road in his convertible. Of course, the thing Mike loved most of all was spending time with his friends, family, and his beloved grandchildren. He was a good man, gone too soon: a treasured son, brother, uncle, father, grandfather, and cherished husband.
Private graveside funeral services were held at 11 o’clock Monday morning, September 8, 2014, at Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh. A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at a later date.
Mr. Bradley is survived by his wife of 37 years, Cathy Densmore Bradley; children, Lance Bradley and wife, Kelly, of Wake Forest and Erin Meeks and husband, Lee, of Newport; grandchildren, Lance Bradley II, Summer Bradley, and Griffin Meeks; father, Luke Calloway Bradley and wife, Lee, of Maryville, Tennessee; brothers, John M. Bradley and Brenda Williams of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Joe M. Bradley and wife, Terry, of Maryville, Tennessee; niece, Jenny Bradley and wife, Mitzi Gardner, of Raleigh. He is preceded in death by his mother, Sallie Cordelia Mobley.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in honor of Mike’s brother, Joe, to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Carolinas Chapter, 3101 Industrial Drive, #210, Raleigh, NC 27609.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Ralph R. Minor
Ralph R. Minor, 91, of Raleigh died Tuesday, September 2, 2014, at Wake Medical Center. He was born in McDowell County, West Virginia, the son of the late Maggie Fowler Minor and Charlie Preston Minor.
A memorial service honoring his life was held at 2 o’clock Friday afternoon, September 5, 2014, at the Wake Forest Presbyterian Church. Inurnment was in Pine Forest Memorial Gardens.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Doris Watson Minor; daughter, Bonnie Hoots and husband, Benny, of Wake Forest; granddaughter, Misty Foster and husband, Bradley, of Raleigh; great-grandchild, Cayden Foster; and a sister, Thelma Brown of Winston-Salem.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, 12605 Capital Blvd., Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.brightfunerals.com.
Esta Edge Hudgins
Esta Edge Hudgins of Louisburg, 86, died Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at Rex Hospital. She was a loving and a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She was born in Clarendon, the daughter of the late Bertha Harrelson Edge and Charles Marion Edge Sr., and was preceded in death by a sister, Lila Griffin.
Mrs. Hudgins was a faithful member of Flat Rock Baptist Church and will be missed by all who knew her.
Funeral services will be held at 1 o’clock Saturday afternoon at Flat Rock Baptist Church with Rev. Gary McNair officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Hudgins is survived by her husband, Ron R. Hudgins; her children, Michael “Mickey” Allen and wife, Carolyn, of Oxford, Mississippi, Melanie Upton and husband, Bruce, of Garner, Mitch Allen and wife, Sandy, of Fuquay-Varina; sisters, Thelma Doares of Lumberton and Ora Lee Grimsley of Elliott City, Maryland.; brother, Charles Edge of Loris, South Carolina; grandchildren, Justin Allen, Jonathan Allen, Cameron Allen, Blake Upton, Brent Upton and Amelia Allen; and great-grandchildren, Sydney and Thomas Upton and Samuel Allen.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Flat Rock Baptist Church Building Fund, 1529 Flat Rock Church Road, Louisburg, NC 27549.
Friends may visit with the family from 7 to 9 Friday evening, September 12, 2014, at Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 South Main Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
