James Clayburn Bradford

BRADFORD, James Clayburn
of Kalamazoo, Michigan

James died March 1, 2012, at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo, MI. He was born April 5, 1931, in Hatton, AL, a son of Grady J. and Maggie Bell Canups Bradford. After graduating from high school, James entered the US Army serving from 1949 to 1951. He moved to Kalamazoo in 1951 and worked for Eaton Corporation for 29 ½ years. James was a talented musician and for 25 years he played lead fiddle for Rem Wall and the Green Valley Boys. Jim also played several years with the Williams Family band from Byron Center, MI, played at many nursing homes in Southwest Michigan with Bob Rowe and Rendal Wall as well as playing over the years with several other local bands. Jim has won multiple fiddle contests and has played on the CDs of several different artists as well as recording his own CD of fiddle music. James was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Wade Bradford and a sister, Gail Baker. On November 21, 1953, James was united in marriage with the former Sarah "Vi" Talley, who survives. Also surviving are: two sons, Michael J. Mary Beth Bradford of Spring Lake and Brian K. Bradford of Kalamazoo; two grandsons, David M. Bradford of Seattle, WA and Thomas G. Bradford of Kalamazoo; a sister, Clara Louie Clark of Dorr, MI; three brothers, Coy Hazel Bradford of Estero, FL, Donald Linda Bradford of Kalamazoo and Dale Sandy Bradford of Chapel Hill, TN, a brother in law, Narvel Phyllis Talley of Caro, MI: a sister-in-law, Mary Foor of Mobile, AL; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Monday at 11:00 AM, at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St., with Rev. Peter Yoshonis of Spring Lake Wesleyan Church, officiating. Entombment in Mount Ever Rest Memorial Park, North will follow services. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. Memorials should be directed to the American Cancer Society or the United Parkinson Foundation.