KINGSPORT — Evangelist Willie Kate (Treece) Bradford, 93, of Kingsport, went to be with her Lord, Monday morning (Aug. 5, 2013) at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center after a lengthy illness.
She was the daughter of the late Arthur and Hattie Davis Treece of Morristown. Evangelist Bradford was one of 12 siblings born to her parents’ union. Those who have preceded her in death are: Tivis, Howard, James Charles, Hal, Jr., Louis and Bobby Gene Treece, Grace Patterson, Ada Ruth Patterson, Dorothy Treece and Helen Kyle.
Evangelist Bradford married Rauls N. Bradford. During their union, five children were born: Rauls, John and Carl Bradford, all of Kingsport, R. Eugene Bradford of Phoenix, Arizona, and Glenna (Raymond) Swoffard of Ooltewah, Tenn.
She leaves one brother, Buddy Wayne (Dorothy) Treece of Morristown; one sister-in-law, Parolee Marie Treece of Detroit, Mich.; six grandchildren; and step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Special friends include Sister Annie Ruth Gillespie, Calvin and Sonya Sneed; and a son-in-law who loved her dearly.
Evangelist Bradford was baptized in Jesus Name in 1946 and filled with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost in 1947. She was called into the ministry and served as Assistant Pastor of Mount Zion Holiness Church, Kingsport, for several years. Later in 1971, she was fellowshipped into Grace Temple Church Eternal Life Center where she served faithfully as Assistant Pastor for 35 years (1971-2007) until her health started to decline. Evangelist Bradford loved serving the Lord, seeing souls baptized in Jesus’ Name and receiving the precious gift of the Holy Ghost. Serving the Lord was Evangelist Bradford’s life.
The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday at Grace Temple Church Eternal Life Center, 208 Garden Drive, Johnson City.
Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. in the church with Pastor Mark Redd officiating. Friends may also call at their convenience for viewing on Friday afternoon at Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport. You may call anytime at the home of Mrs. Bradford. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park, Kingsport. Pallbearers will be the Deacons of Grace Temple Church. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews. Flower bearers will be Grace Temple Church Family. You may send online condolences to the family by visiting www.cartertrent.com .
Final arrangements are entrusted to Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport.
