Obituary
Catherine “Cathy” Bradford, age 89, of Orlando, Florida passed away March 19, 2022 after battling a long term illness. Her devotion to family and firm belief in the Lord supported her in this struggle and ultimately gave her peace.
Cathy was born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on September 11, 1932 to Mr & Mrs James W. Shaw of Kansas City, Missouri at the home of her grandparents, Dr & Mrs Isaac N. Barnett. Though having moved frequently during her childhood, she graduated high school in Dallas, Texas and eventually attended the University of South Alabama.
She was involved with the church from a very early age by saving all her extra pennies to help build the First Christian Church in Mobile, Alabama and in 1978 relocated to Orlando, Florida to help start Rolling Hills Community Church. She eventually became a member of Central Christian Church in Orlando.
Her interests included radio broadcasting where she was offered a scholarship to the University of Kentucky at age 16. Later in life, after taking voiceover lessons from actor Gordon Jump, she had her own late night radio show on an AM radio station in Deland, Florida. Cathy also had a love for music, dancing, travel and flying where she often relayed stories of her taking flying lessons and soloing in a Piper Cub. One of her favorite stories to tell was of her interviewing Elvis Presley just as he was becoming a rising star. She was an avid reader of the Bible and enjoyed putting a smile on stranger’s faces.
Cathy began her banking career at the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas, Texas and transferred to the Federal Reserve Bank in Salt Lake City, Utah. Later on, she traveled around the country with her husband, Edward “Bud” Bradford, selling western wear and attending horse shows. After her divorce, she returned to bookkeeping in the accounting and real estate industries.
Cathy is survived by her son Bret Bradford and granddaughter Erin Bradford. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother James Shaw and sister Dorothy Barr.
A small service celebrating her life will be held April 11 at 10:00 AM at Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society, 1654 N. Semoran Blvd in Orlando, Florida.
Love Denita Shirk