Mrs. Laura Verna Baker Bradley

Service for Laura will be held on Saturday at 11: a.m. at Growing Valley Baptist Church.

Laura Verna Baker was born in Bremond, Texas on July 13, 1918, the fifth of eight children born to John and Ella Baker. She was educated in the Bremond public school system and received her religious training at Bremond’s New Hope Baptist Church. 

She attended Prairie View A & M University and after her studies, served as the university’s Postmaster General. During this time, she met and later married the Rev. R. B. Bradley. They moved from Texas and together built a life and family in Saginaw, Michigan. He became pastor and she served as First Lady of Mount Olive Baptist Church.

In 1958 the family relocated to Longview, Texas where Rev. Bradley assumed leadership of the Growing Valley Baptist Church and Laura served the church in various capacities including Sunday School teacher, church musician, youth director, and leadership of various missionary groups. While working tirelessly in the church and caring for her family she also taught in the Texas public school system for 48 years. 

Her life was one of devotion and commitment. She was committed to her husband; she was committed to her faith and she was committed to her family. This was evident to everyone that spent time with her. She found extreme satisfaction and joy in her service to the church. She was an avid Bible reader, not only reading daily but also committing time to in depth study. Outside her home church, she demonstrated her faith through service that included 24 years as President of the Women’s Auxiliary of the East Texas Baptist Longview District Association (ETBLDA). She started the March of Dimes Charitable Fund Raising for the ETBLDA and served 20 years as the Vice President at Large for the Texas Educational State Baptist Convention.

She lived 106 years! When asked her secret for longevity, her answer was always the same, “To God Be the Glory”. When asked about her favorite things in life she would always say “first, I love the young people. I love watching them grow, I love their energy and I love seeing them learn”. Second, “I love the elderly. I love their wisdom, hearing their stories and being in their presence.” Third, “I love all those in between”.

She is survived by one son, Robert Taft Bradley (Jo Ann), Longview, Texas, and one daughter, Laura Bradley Price (Danny), Arlington, Texas. Two daughter-in-laws, Mae G. Bradley, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Hetra Bradley, West Bloomfield, Michigan. Seven grandchildren, Angela Graves, Holli Harrington, Fernanda Christian, Yolanda Thompson, Trenton Bradley Price, Réna Bradley, and Tyler Lauren Price, and host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, church family, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her late husband, the Rev. R. B. Bradley, two sons, Rev. James R. Bradley and Raina B. Bradley, Jr., both parents, and all seven siblings.