Richard Warren Bradley, 86, of Hampton, GA, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2020. He was born January 6, 1934 in Shreveport, LA to Jesse J. and Fannie Mae Bradley. His family moved to Texarkana, TX when he was seven years old where he attended Sunset Elementary School. Later the family settled in Kansas City, MO.
Richard graduated from Lincoln High School in 1952. He wanted to become a dentist and attended Drake University in Des Moines, IA where he received the foundation to become a pre-med student. After attending college for one year, Richard left to marry Jacqueline E. Bradley in 1954, who was expecting their first child. This union was blessed with four children.
In 1970 Richard married Juda A. Middleton. Two children were welcomed to this union. Richard married Auletta Seward in 1991.
On January 26, 1995, Richard married Priscilla E. Eddy and remained with her until his passing. They relocated to Hampton, GA in 2015.
In 1961 Richard joined the Nation of Islam and became a devoted minister under the Honorable Elijah Muhammad in 1964. He led a disciplined life and only ate one meal a day. Richard had to step down as a minister due to his wife’s health problems. As a loving father he was a great role model and made birthday cakes from scratch for his family. In 1981 Louis Farrakhan invited Richard to serve as a minister again. His ministry ended in 1998 due to his health.
Richard was very athletic. He was a Golden Gloves boxer but lost interest after he knocked a contender’s teeth out. His favorite sport was football, which he played in high school and then later coached a semi- pro team that he started in Kansas City. Both teams were named the Buffalos.
He was the original quarterback of the semi-pro Buffalos until his knee was shattered during a game in Tulsa. When he arrived back in Kansas City after the game, his options were to have his leg removed or agree to an experimental surgery by a German doctor. The operation was a success and the results lasted for 50 years. Richard had a second knee replacement in 2011.
Richard was an excellent barber and retired from the United States Post Office. After retirement, he loved working as a school bus driver.
Richard is survived by his loving wife of 25 years: Priscilla E. Bradley; his brother: Robert C. Bradley; three sons: Richard W. Bradley, Jr. (Rosalyn), Lance E. Bradley (Tina) and Calvin Middleton, Jr.; three daughters: Donna R. YaDullah-Chase (John), Valerie L. Salaam (Dwight), and Michelle Bradley; 31 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and the following siblings: John L. Bradley and Jesse J. Bradley, Jr.; a sister-in-law: Toni Bradley and a son-in-law: Jimmie S. YaDullah. Interment will be held at Camp Memorial Park in Fayetteville, GA. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled in Kansas City, Missouri by the Nation of Islam on a later date.
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