- Date Of Birth: July 31, 1944
- Date Of Death: March 15, 2022
- State: Florida
Rebecca (Becky) Bradford peacefully went to be with the Lord on March 15, 2022 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born in Compton, California on July 31, 1944, the daughter of Elbert and Beverly Legge.
Growing up in various parts of southern California, Becky was in some ways a shy girl (always thinking she was too skinny to be pretty), but was always anxious to make friends. As a young teen, her parents separated and in time she went to live with her father on his farm in West Virginia. Later she accompanied her sister, Patricia, back to California where Becky lived with her mother and then married at only 16 years of age. A year later she had her first child, a daughter, Terri, and soon thereafter 2 more children Tina and John.
Her husband and father of her children, Clarence, became a carpet layer and in time he and Becky opened a flooring business. Seeing an opportunity, Becky used her innate artistic and creative talent, and her charm, to become an interior decorator. Within a few more years the marriage ended.
After some years of living single, Becky met Tom early in 1989 in Garden Grove, California and before the end of the year they were married, living on beautiful Redondo Beach. Tom describes their marriage as “arranged” because it was his parents who first met Becky and in time they told Tom that he had to meet this amazing woman because she’d be a perfect fit in the family. They were right. Within a year, Tom’s career took them to the Florida Keys where they would reside for the next 4 years. There they bought a house, which Becky immediately began to modify and decorate to her delight.
Later Tom and Becky moved to Rockledge, Florida where Becky built her dream house. Tom’s son Matt lived with them and went to the local high school and in a few years his other son, Tom Jr., moved his family to Rockledge from Washington. Becky saw them as her own and never wavered from this view. As far as she was concerned she had five children. Later Tom exited the corporate world and Tom and Becky began a Christian ministry that grew and thrived. Becky was the recognized and indispensable heart of this ministry; the undisputed matriarch.
Becky and Tom traveled the USA and the world, having countless adventures on nearly every continent and drawing especially close to Israel and the Jewish people. Whatever Becky and Tom did was done together.
Becky will always be remembered as the love of Tom’s life, who changed him for the better; and as a mom who loved her children. Also, as a grandma… the fun grandma with endless energy… who stopped everything she was doing to play with her several grandchildren whenever they came over. And come over they did, regularly coming in a small group to spend weekends. But always Grandma Becky was at the center. In fact, even when the grandchildren were quite young, Becky and Tom loaded them up into Becky’s van and went on vacations to Canada, New York, Washington D.C., West Virginia, California, and more with everyone having the time of their lives because Becky always made it fun and exciting.
Becky leaves an enduring legacy of love, compassion, caring, and serving God. The world has lost a living light, but Heaven has gained a real character who no doubt has the Angels laughing. She leaves behind Tom, her husband that adores her, 5 children: Terri, Tina, John, Tom Jr., and Matt. But also 2 daughters-in-law that Becky has always called her daughters, Kim and Debbie. Also 3 siblings: Patricia, Archie and Stan. Plus, 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 All that awaits me now is the crown of righteousness which the Lord, “the Righteous Judge,” will award to me on that Day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for him to appear. (2 Tim. 4:7-8 CJB)
May they, and we, be reunited some day in the presence of God.
