Patricia Ann Bradford

Patti Bradford October 15, 1946 - March 24, 2023

Patricia Ebner Bradford, 76, died suddenly on March 24, 2023, of Covid complications. Born in Minerva, Ohio, on October 15, 1946, Patti (Patsy as she was called by her family) was the daughter of John V. Ebner and Bernice Leatherberry Ebner.

After graduating from high school, Patti fulfilled her childhood dream of flying by working in air travel as a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines. She relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where she met Lee Bradford. After their marriage in June, 1969, Patti and Lee made their home in Decatur, Georgia, and she began her lifelong work of volunteer service, first at (Emory) Dekalb Medical Center and then for more than 30 years at the VA Medical Center on Clairmont Road. With over 16,000 hours of volunteer service, she received the VA Volunteer of the Year Award for her outstanding service to our veterans.

Many have been influenced and blessed by the ways in which Patti gave care and support to her family, community and church. She was an active member and Bible teacher at the Church at Decatur Heights. Her commitment to sharing the love of Christ is reflected in one of her favorite scriptures, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21-

18. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Patti loved the Lord with all her being and demonstrated the power of a life given over to the Holy Spirit, always faithful to the love of Christ, putting others needs ahead of her own. Her husband Lee's testimony of her legacy is, "In all the years that I have been with Patti, never once did I heard her speak a harsh word to or about another human being." The light that she brought into this world is no longer visibly present but will be remembered by those she knew and loved. We will miss her calm, gentle presence and her fun, infectious laugh. And now she has taken her place among the great cloud of witnesses to cheer those of us who are still in the race.

In addition to her parents, Patti is preceded in death by her sister, Bonnie Ebner Liber. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, James Lee Bradford, her brother, John (Jack) Ebner and wife, Janie, brother-in-law Bob Liber and brother-in-law Allen Bradford and wife, Yvonne. She was beloved Aunt Patti to her three nephews and a niece and to Lee's five nephews and a niece. She was dearly loved by her adopted family, the John Faulkner family of Alpharetta, Georgia. Having never had children of their own, Patti and Lee (aka Ma and Pa) are spiritual parents to Beth Anderson, and Jennifer Ruhl, their beloved adopted daughters. Charlotte and Dennis Brown, Patsy's best friends will carry on her work of love.

Patti's memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 15, at the Church at Decatur Heights, 735 Sycamore Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030 (404-373-1841). Early arrival is suggested to secure a seat.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia. Or monetary donations may be given to the Atlanta Union Mission where Patti and Lee participated in sharing Christ's beatitude, "blessed are the poor for to them belongs the Kingdom of heaven."