Sandra Jean Bradford's Obituary
Services for Sandra Jean Bradford, 76, will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 31, 2023, at Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church, 812 E. Lufkin. Visitation will be from 3 p.m., till 5 p.m., Sunday, July 30,2023, in the Colonial Mortuary Chapel . Burial will follow in the Cedar Grove Cemetery. Mrs. Bradford was born August 3, 1946 in Oakland CA, and died Sunday July 23, 2023 in Lufkin.
Sandra Jean Bradford was born on August 3, 1946 to Margie Nell Porter-Harris, the niece of Mrs. Mamie Lee Sparks Richards.
As an infant, Sandra Jean was lovingly adopted and raised by the late Mamie and her husband, the late O.C. Richards. Sandra Jean, was their own child. As a family, they lived in Lufkin, Texas and attended Goodwill Baptist Church. Sandra received her formal education in the Lufkin School System, graduating from Dunbar High School, Class of 1965. After graduation, she moved to Oakland California, where she attended Business School. She later moved to Sacramento, California where she reunited with her Birth Mom, Margie Nell and nine younger siblings. It was during this time she met Johnnie Bradford from Brooklyn New York, whom she married and to their union three children were born: Lawrence Wayne Bradford, Derick Keith Bradford(deceased) and Erica Bradford-Rampersad.
From 1971-1977 Bronx New York was her home for twenty six years. She started working at New York City Department of Social Services in 1973. She was an active member of Union Grove Baptist Church and a member of the choir during those years. She also served as a member of the NAACP Organization. In 1977, Sandra moved to Ossining New York where she became a member of Star Bethlehem Baptist Church and continued her active church duties. She retired from New York City Department of Social Services in early 2001. During this time she assisted in caring for her grandchildren and enjoyed being known as Nana Jean to her grandchildren. In 2011, Sandra was excited to return to her home town in Lufkin, Texas. She moved into her new home on Shady Lane, where she was raised as a child and teenager. Sandy Lane was named after Sandra Bradford by her father O.C. Richards. She also returned back to her original church roots at Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church, enjoyed living in Lufkin, reuniting with cousins, old friends, and Church Community. Most of all Sandra loved her God, her children and grandchildren.
Left to cherish her memories: A son, Lawrence Wayne Bradford (Stephanie), New York; Daughter, Erica Rochelle Rampersad (John) New York, (Preceded in death by a son, Derick Keith Bradford); Grandchildren, Imani Bradford, Teleah Rampersad, Tahirah Rampersad, and Quinten L. Bradford; Sister/cousin, Andra Young Sherrod, Desoto, Texas; Sisters, Evangelist Jacqueline Brown, Cathy Lester, Debra Harris, Patricia Lester and Susan Lester Moseley Starks, Carolyn Oliver both of Houston, Texas; Uncle, Tommy Porter of Houston, Texas; Special and loving cousin, Marie Richard Davis (Melvin) Lufkin, Texas; A wealth of other relatives, family, sister and brothers in Christ and dear friends.
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