Life's Journey

On March 13, 1932, Delores Jean Pippen was born into the family of the late Jack Pippen, Sr. and Roberta Hines Pippen. She was raised in a close knit, loving family of thirteen (13) children. Her siblings were:  Mary Lee, Jack, Jr., James, Ben, Ruth, William, Annie, Harvey, Joe, Josh, Roland and Sam. Six of her siblings were older than her and six were younger. In her residence on February 16, 2025, Delores quietly ascended to her heavenly home.

Delores married her only love, James H. Bradley, Sr. immediately upon departure from Pattillo High School. Their union produced four children, two boys and two girls.  The Tarboro, NC natives were married 68 years prior to the passing of James, Sr. on May 24, 2017.

Delores surrendered her life to Christ at the tender age of six at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church (her family church) in Tarboro. As a child she was a member of the Usher Board, Junior Choir and Sunday school. During her early adulthood, she was a devoted member of the Senior Choir until 1972 when the couple relocated to Newport News, Virginia.  Delores was a faithful member of St. Paul Baptist Church for 29 years.

After arriving in Virginia, Delores joined the First Church of Newport News on Wickham Avenue where she worshiped regularly for five years. Subsequently she became a member of New Life Church (NLC) in Newport News which later moved to Hampton, Virginia.  During her 48 year tenure at NLC, until Mother Bradley's health declined, she served as a member of the Voices of Praise, the Senior Choir, Sunday school, the Seniors Ministry, and a student in the BSF International Bible Study. Mother Bradley enjoyed being a table captain for the Beautiful Tables program, maintaining the church's live plants, and assisting at Heavenly Waters.  Delores was also a member of Dream Makers, Triumph and the W. A. Pattillo High School Alumni Association, Inc.

Delores begin working in the healthcare industry as a nurses' aide at Edgecombe General Hospital in Tarboro and she started her career as a surgical technician there. Later she earned certifications from Purdue University as a Certified Surgical Technician and a Certified Central Supply Technician. Delores was employed as a Surgical Tech for a total of 41 years: 12 ½ years at Edgecombe General Hospital in Tarboro, 16 ½ years at Newport News General Hospital (formerly Whittakers Hospital) in Newport News, and finally 12 years at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News where she retired in 2003. Her healthcare career culminated after over 55 years of service. Delores had a passion for helping the sick, shut-in and less fortunate.

Delores took pleasure in talking to her family, church members, friends and neighbors. She was a devoted, loving and supportive wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, god mother, church member and friend. Delores enjoyed singing, looking at spiritual TV programs, gardening, site-seeing, interior decorating, traveling and exercising. She faithfully read her bible and prayed multiple times daily for hours at a time. Delores' favorite scriptures were Psalm 91 and Exodus 15:2 which reads: "The Lord is my strength and my defense, He has become my salvation, He is my God and I will praise Him, my Father's God, and I will exalt Him." (NIV)

In addition to her adoring husband and parents, Delores is preceded in death by eleven (11) loving siblings.  She is survived by a plethora of loving, caring, devoted and supportive relatives including: two daughters, Dr. Veronica J. Bradley and J. Victoria Bradley; two sons, James H. Bradley, Jr. and Sylvester Bradley; one brother, Josh Pippen; three grandsons, Christopher J. Bradley, Justin L. Bradley, and Derrick Terry (adopted); two great grandsons, Christion Bradley and Jenzel Bradley; a special nephew, Melvin Pippen (Pat) who was raised in her family's childhood home like a brother; and two godchildren, Alvin and Marilyn Terry; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins friends and neighbors. Her quiet, gentle, kind, loving and generous spirit will forever prevail in the hearts and minds of the many people she loved and the lives she touched during her lifetime.

A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 28th, 2025, New Life Church located 1525 Power Plant Parkway, Hampton, VA 23669. Entombment will follow in Hampton Memorial Gardens.  Viewing will be held on Thursday, February 27th, 2025 from 3pm to 6pm at the funeral home. The Funeral will be live-streamed on Facebook at: New Life Church Inc./Hampton VA